JUSTICE

Archway Tower

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Office of the Public Guardian on future employment at Archway Tower, London, N19; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Chief Executive and Public Guardian continues to provide me with regular updates on the progress of the OPGs change plans, including those for the Archway Tower office.
	Archway Tower currently has three occupiers: the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), the Court of Protection (administered by Her Majestys Courts Service) and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). The OPGs plans concerning its future operating model and structure are distinct from the ongoing activities of the Court and CAFCASS.
	It has become increasingly clear that the success of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 will continue to generate very significant future demand for the services of the OPG. As a result, the OPG has begun developing its strategy to ensure it is able to offer a high quality service to all of its customers: both now as well as in the future. To enable this strategy, it is planning to move OPG business progressively out of London in order to meet its customers needs on a more efficient, effective and sustainable footing in the medium to long term.
	OPG engages actively with staff and trade unions about its change plans as they develop, particularly where they have a direct impact on teams and individuals. All work force change will be managed in line with the Ministry of Justice work force change policies, as agreed with trade unions.

Ashwell Prison

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were relocated to other prisons following the disturbance at HM Prison Ashwell on 11 April 2009; and to which prisons they were sent.

Maria Eagle: 424 prisoners were transferred to 26 establishments. The numbers per prison are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Receiving establishment  Number of prisoners received 
			 Altcourse 24 
			 Bedford 16 
			 Birmingham 6 
			 Bullingdon 20 
			 Dovegate 14 
			 Durham 20 
			 Forest Bank 30 
			 Full Sutton 2 
			 Garth 10 
			 Hewell 6 
			 Highdown 14 
			 Holme House 20 
			 Leeds 30 
			 Leicester 2 
			 Lincoln 6 
			 Liverpool 34 
			 Manchester 20 
			 Peterborough 12 
			 Preston 28 
			 Ranby 12 
			 Shrewsbury 14 
			 Stocken 24 
			 Wellingborough 6 
			 Whitemoor 16 
			 Woodhill 24 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 14 
			 Total 26

Complaints

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1252W, for what reasons his Department decided not to collect centrally data on complaints about ClearSprings properties received by his Department and its agencies.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice holds information on the number of ClearSprings properties about which complaints have been received. Correspondence sent to the Director of Offender Management offices in the 10 regions of England and Wales and to the contractor is the responsibility of those offices and is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Only those letters sent to the Ministry of Justice headquarters are held centrally.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions from offices in his Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice was created in May 2007, this answer gives the estimate of the carbon dioxide emissions from offices for the year 2007-08. The Ministry of Justice is unable to provide information on carbon dioxide emissions from offices for 2006-07 without incurring disproportionate costs.
	The estimate the Ministry of Justice made of (i) total carbon dioxide emissions from its offices was 12,043 tonnes and (ii) per full-time equivalent (FTEs) member of staff was 3.2 tonnes based upon 3,741 FTEs. This information is for Ministry of Justice headquarters only as all other parts of the estate have non-office buildings within their returns.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions arising from road-based transport used for administrative operations by his Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice was created in May 2007, this answer gives the total figures for 2007-08. The Ministry of Justice is unable to provide an estimate of carbon dioxide emissions for road-based transport in 2006-07 without incurring disproportionate costs.
	The estimated amount of carbon emissions arising from road-based travel for administrative operations for the year 2007-08 was 9,789.7 tonnes CO2. The figure per full-time equivalent (FTE) member of staff in 2007-08 was 0.1 tonnes CO2 based upon 93,385 FTEs (core Department plus Executive agencies).

Departmental Carbon Emissions

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions arising from air travel by staff in his Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice was created in May 2007, this answer gives the figure for 2007-08. The Ministry of Justice is unable to provide the carbon dioxide emissions from air travel by staff in 2006-07 without incurring disproportionate costs.
	The estimate the Ministry of Justice made of (i) total carbon emissions arising from air travel by staff in 2007-08 was 1,139 tonnes CO2e and (ii) per full-time equivalent (FTE) member of staff was 0.012 tonnes CO2e based upon 93,385 FTEs (core Department plus Executive agencies).

Departmental Work Experience

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) paid and  (b) unpaid graduate internships his Department has awarded in each of the last six months.

Michael Wills: No centrally co-ordinated internships (paid or unpaid) have been awarded in the past six months. Business areas may have offered internships, but this information is not collated centrally and could be determined only at disproportionate cost.
	The Ministry of Justice participates in the summer placement schemes co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office (these are paid internships). This year, seven placements have been arranged; six through the Ethnic Minority Summer Development Programme and one through the Disability Summer Placement Scheme. The placements will start later in June and July.

Legal Aid

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many defendants were unrepresented in cases heard in each magistrates' court in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the likely change in the number of unrepresented defendants as a result of the recent changes in the rules on eligibility for legal aid;
	(3)  how many representations he received in response to his recent consultation on means testing in Crown court cases; and how many of those submissions were  (a) in support of and  (b) against the introduction of such testing.

Bridget Prentice: Currently no data are collected from the magistrates courts about numbers of unrepresented defendants.
	There have been no recent changes to the rules on eligibility for criminal legal aid. Moreover, the introduction of means testing will not alter eligibility for legal aid in the Crown courts. Everyone who applies to be legally aided in the Crown court will be granted it. There is however a risk that the introduction of means testing to the Crown court will result in an increase in unrepresented defendants, as some people may decide to represent themselves rather than pay a contribution. This issue will be carefully monitored during the early adopter' phase and as part of the post-implementation review following national roll out.
	The recent consultation on Crown court means testing received a total of 48 responses. Over two thirds of respondents (34 in all) either explicitly supported or implied in their comments that they supported the principle that those who can afford to pay towards their defence costs should be asked to do so.

Mentally Disturbed Offenders: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many criminals were diagnosed with a mental illness in Milton Keynes in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not collected centrally.

Offenders: Cannabis

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many 
	(1)  Vietnamese  (a) adults and  (b) children have been (i) arrested and (ii) charged for offences related to cannabis production in the last three years;
	(2)  how many individuals of each nationality have been charged with offences relating to cannabis production in the last three years.

Claire Ward: Information collected centrally by the Ministry of Justice on arrests does not include nationality of the person arrested. We collect data in line with Cabinet Office advice and this identifies self-defined ethnicity (16+1) as the appropriate recording method and this does not include nationality.

Prison Accommodation

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many category B prisoners are currently held in category C prisons; and how many category C prisoners are held in category D penal establishments.

Maria Eagle: Category C prisoners are not held in category D prisons. All prisoners are assessed as to their risk of escape or abscond, which ensures allocation of prisoners to a prison providing appropriate levels of security. Only those considered suitable would be held in category D open conditions. Those same procedures ensure that category B prisoners are not allocated to category C prisons, and that all prisoners are held in an establishment of the security category to which they have been assigned.
	Prisoners re-categorised to a higher category would be held in the prison's segregation unit until such time as they could be moved to more appropriate accommodation.
	The correct categorisation and allocation, balancing security issues and the needs of the prisoner, helps prisoners to use their sentences constructively, to tackle their offending behaviour and to prepare for their eventual release. All prisoners must be placed in the lowest security category consistent with the needs of security and control and the need to protect the public. Prisoners of a higher security category would not, as a matter of course, be held in an establishment of a lower category. The only exceptions to this will be where prisoners are re-categorised, and then await a move to a different establishment.

Prison Sentences

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 1 June 2009,  Official Report, column 81W, on prison sentences, what the average length of time in custody served by offenders sentenced to two months' imprisonment  (a) before sentencing and  (b) after sentencing was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Claire Ward: In 2007, the average time spent in custody for those prisoners sentenced to two months imprisonment was around 20 days before sentencing and around 26 days after sentencing.
	If a prisoner is sentenced to a two-month prison sentence, they will serve one month in custody after the date of sentence, unless they have served time in custody on remand prior to sentence or are eligible for earlier release under the End of Custody Licence scheme (ECL). Prisoners serving less than four weeks are not eligible for consideration for early release under the ECL scheme.
	The averages presented above include (a) those offenders who are not remanded into custody before sentencing and therefore serve the full one month in custody following sentence (or less if released early under ECL); (b) others who spend some time remanded to custody prior to sentencing and therefore serve less than 1 month in custody following sentence; (c) a small number of offenders who spend one month or more remanded to custody prior to sentencing, and are therefore released on the day of sentence because they have served the custodial period of their two-month sentence while on remand.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoner Escapes

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) category B and  (b) category C prisoners have escaped from prison in each of the last 12 years; and how many such offenders remain at large.

Maria Eagle: Escapes from prison have been falling for over a decade and 2008-09 saw the lowest level of prison escapes since records began. The data in the following table show escapes of category B and C prisoners in England and Wales in each of the last 12 years and broken down by year, and showing incidents where a prisoner remains at large.
	
		
			  Escapes of category B and C prisoners by year, showing those remaining unlawfully at large 
			   Category B prisoners  Category C prisoners  Offender remaining at large 
			 1997-98  13  
			 1998-99  8 2 
			 1999-2000  12 1 
			 2000-01  5  
			 2001-02 6 5  
			 2002-03  2 1 
			 2003-04  3 1 
			 2004-05  10  
			 2005-06  2  
			 2006-07  1  
			 2007-08  3 1 
			 2008-09    
			  Notes:  1. includes male adult prisoners categorised to B or C but excludes all others including uncategorised remand prisoners, and those such as women and young offenders who are not categorised at B or C.  2. There has not been an escape of a category A prisoner since 1995.  3. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 
		
	
	Figures on escapes and a range of other prison performance statistics are available at:
	http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/assets/documents/10004423prison_escapes_jan09.pdf

Prisoner Escapes

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1339W, on prisoner escorts: prisoner escapes, for what offences each of the 13 prisoners who are still at large had been convicted.

Maria Eagle: Key performance indicator escapes from Prison Service escorts have fallen since 2002-03, with current low levels sustained for some years. This is despite considerable increases in population over the same period. The following table shows a breakdown of the 13 prisoners still unlawfully at large by offence type.
	
		
			  Offence type of prisoners unlawfully at large following an escape from escort, April 2004 to March 2008 
			  Offence type  Total figure 
			 Drug offences 1 
			 Burglary 5 
			 Conspiracy to murder 1 
			 Theft 2 
			 Breach of community order 1 
			 Actual Bodily Harm 1 
			 Driving while disqualified 1 
			 Wounding with intent: GBH 1 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.
	Figures on escapes from escort contractors and a range of other prison performance statistics are available at:
	http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/assets/documents/10004425category_a_escapes_jan_09.pdf

Prisoners

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much on average it cost to keep a  (a) category A,  (b) category B and  (c) category C prisoner in prison in 2008.

Maria Eagle: Unit costs are calculated on the basis of category of prison establishment, not on the basis of category of prisoner. Figures for 2008-09 are not yet available.
	For 2007-08 the average costs per prisoner in prisons categorised as A, B or C were as follows:
	
		
			  Total cost per prisoner for 2007-08 
			  Establishment  c ategory  £ 
			 Male dispersal (cat A) 75,000 
			 Male category B 38,000 
			 Male category C 33,000 
			  Notes: 1 Rounded to the nearest £500 2 Establishments are categorised by their main role as at the end of 2007-08. Establishments that have more than one role have been placed in the category that represents the primary or dominant function of the prison. For example HMP Moorland is designated as Category C adult but includes a large young offender population. 3. Includes contracted out prisons. 
		
	
	There are a number of factors which will cause differences in prison costs, such as the size, age, location and category of the prison, the mix of prisoners (including gender and age) and the internal regime and rehabilitation work followed.
	The costs comprise  (a) the public sector establishments' direct resource expenditure as published in the HMPS Annual Report and Accounts, which are increased by an apportionment of costs borne centrally by HMPS and the National Offender Management Service and  (b) the resource expenditure of contracted-out prisons also increased by certain costs borne centrally. This involves some estimation. Income from the Youth Justice Board (YJB) in respect of services recharged to the YJB is excluded in order to show the overall cost to the Ministry of Justice. The figures do not include prisoners held in police and court cells under Operation Safeguard, nor expenditure met by other Government departments (e.g. for health and education). The prisoner escort service is included.

Probation

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) probation officers and  (b) probation service officers were employed by Dyfed Powys Probation Area at 31 March in each of the last five financial years.

Maria Eagle: The following table shows the numbers of Probation Officers and Probation Service Officers in post in the Dyfed Powys Probation Trust on 31 March in each of the last five financial years:
	
		
			   Probation Officers( 1)  Probation Service Officers( 2) 
			 2003-04 43.7 36.2 
			 2004-05 46.7 39.9 
			 2005-06 46.3 50.0 
			 2006-07 49.8 53.3 
			 2007-08(3) 51.1 47.0 
			 (1) Probation Officer figures include Senior Probation Officers, Senior Practitioners and Probation Officers. (2) Probation Service Officers figures include Probation Service Officers and Treatment Managers. (3) The information provided has yet to be published and may therefore be subject to minor amendment upon publication.  Notes: Figures are shown as full time equivalents. Figures for the year 2008-09 are not yet available. The figures presented are full time equivalent which take into account part-time staff. Total probation staffing (expressed as full time equivalents) was up from 13,968 in 1997 to 20,869 by June 2007 a 49 per cent. increase over the period. This is also in the context of a 70 per cent. increase in probation funding in real terms over the last 10 years and an increase of more than a third in staff.

Probation

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) community and  (b) custody caseload for Dyfed Powys Probation Area was at 31 March in each of the last five financial years.

Maria Eagle: The total community and pre release custodial offender caseload for Dyfed Powys as at 31 March in each of the last five years was as follows:
	
		
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Supervised in community(1) 1,031 1,051 1,088 1,072 1,254 
			 Supervised in custody 252 272 290 291 294 
			 (1) Includes those supervised on court orders as well as post-release supervision.  Notes: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Total probation staffing (expressed as full time equivalents) was up from 13,968 in 1997 to 20,869 by June 2007 a 49 per cent. increase over the period. This is also in the context of a 70 per cent. increase in probation funding in real terms over the last 10 years and an increase of more than a third in staff.

Probation

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders resident in Dyfed Powys Probation Area were categorised as Tier 4 in each of the last five financial years.

Maria Eagle: The total number of offenders in Dyfed Powys probation area who were categorised as tier 4 as at 31 March in each of the last three years was as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2006 321 
			 2007 323 
			 2008 223 
		
	
	Information on tier prior to 1 April 2005 was not recorded.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Probation

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of the 100 additional probation officers to be recruited by the London Probation Service in the next two years will be newly-qualified trainees.

Maria Eagle: London Probation plan to recruit over 140 probation officers by November 2010. These will be predominantly successful trainees although some more experienced probation officers may seek employment in London for personal and professional reasons. The number of these types of application cannot be predicted.

Probation Boards: Finance

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which probation boards are operating in a budget deficit; and what each deficit is.

Maria Eagle: Unaudited management accounts show that five probation boards are reporting a budget overspend for the financial year ended 31 March 2009, as follows:
	
		
			   £000  Percentage 
			 Dorset 50 0.5 
			 North Yorkshire 249 2.4 
			 Surrey 36 0.3 
			 South Yorkshire 58 0.2 
			 North Wales 22 0.2 
		
	
	This must be seen in the context of underspends by other probation boards and trusts, resulting in a provisional £17 million (1.9 per cent.) underspend for the 42 probation areas in 2008-09.
	While any overspends are potentially of concern in a challenging economic and financial environment, the relatively small size of the overspends in the table and the significant underspend nationally demonstrates effective financial planning by the probation service as a whole in 2008-09.

Probation: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what budget was allocated to the Hampshire probation area in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The resource budget allocations for Hampshire probation area for 2004-5 to 2008-09 are shown in the following table.
	As a result of changes to the budget allocation methodology, plus machinery of government changes and accounting methodology changes, it is difficult to compare figures over a long period.
	
		
			  Hampshire probation area end-year budgets 
			   Revenue (£000) 
			 2008-09 25,614 
			 2007-08 24,338 
			 2006-07 23,057 
			 2005-06 21,872 
			 2004-05 20,026

Probation: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) probation service officers and  (b) probation officers there were in the Hampshire probation area in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The following table shows the numbers of Probation Officers and Probation Service Officers in post in Hampshire Probation Area on 31 March in each of the last five financial years:
	
		
			   Probation Officers( 1)  Probation Service Officers( 2) 
			 2003-04 178.6 125.4 
			 2004-05 (1)88.9 121.1 
			 2005-06 194.9 156.8 
			 2006-07 195.0 179.6 
			 2007-08(3) 185.7 192.4 
			 (1) Probation Officer figures include Senior Probation Officers, Senior Practitioners, Practice Development Assessors and Probation Officers. (2) Probation Service Officers figures include Probation Service Officers and Treatment Managers. (3) The information provided has yet to be published and may therefore be subject to minor amendment upon publication.  Notes: Figures are shown as full time equivalents. Figures for the year 2008-09 are not yet available. The figures presented are full time equivalent which take into account part time staff.

Probation: Yorkshire and the Humber

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) community and  (b) custody caseload of Humberside Probation Trust was on 31 March in each of the last five financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The total community and pre release custodial offender caseload for Humberside as at 31 March in each of the last five years was as follows:
	
		
			   Supervised in community( 1)  Supervised in custody 
			 2004 2,519 1,277 
			 2005 2,647 1,264 
			 2006 2,893 1,214 
			 2007 2,940 1,224 
			 2008 3,080 1,295 
			 (1) Includes those supervised on court orders as well as post-release supervision. 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	Total probation staffing (expressed as full-time equivalents) was up from 13,968 in 1997 to 20,869 by June 2007 a 49 per cent. increase over the period. This is also in the context of a 70 per cent. increase in probation funding in real terms over the last 10 years and an increase of more than a third in staff.

Reoffenders: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the re-offending rate for offenders in each age group in the Hampshire probation area was in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The local reoffending figures are produced by aggregating the data of four snapshots of the probation caseload at the end of each quarter. Therefore the number of offenders quoted in the following table is approximately four times the number of offenders on the caseload at any one time.
	
		
			  Local adult reoffending rates for Hampshire 
			  Reoffending period covered by cohort  Number of offenders  Actual reoffending rate (percentage) 
			 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008 19,460 9.69 
			 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008 19,665 9.83 
		
	
	The local reoffending rate is not broken down by age band.
	Local adult reoffending rates by probation area are not available for periods prior to 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008.
	Further details on local adult reoffending are available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/local-adult-reoffending-2008-ii-pdf

Youth Justice

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what mechanisms his Department uses to measure the effectiveness of referral orders in the youth justice system; and what assessment he has made of that effectiveness.

Maria Eagle: The most relevant measure on referral orders is reoffending rates. Data on reoffending rates for 2007, the most recent year figures are available, show that the proportion of juveniles that reoffended following a referral order was 40.5 per cent. The frequency rate of reoffending shows that these offenders committed an average of 117.6 offences per 100 offenders. These are the lowest reoffending rates of all juvenile court imposed sentences.
	Reoffending rates for different sentences should not be compared to assess the relative effectiveness of these sentences, as there is no control for known differences in offender characteristics or other factors that may affect both reoffending and the type of sentence given.
	A juvenile cohort study on the effectiveness of all juvenile sentences for under-18s, which includes the referral order, is due to report next year.

DEFENCE

Archaeology

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria his Department uses in deciding whether to fund archaeological and cultural heritage projects; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: There are three main criteria used by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in deciding whether to fund projects: compliance with legislation; compliance with planning policy obligations; and the Departments commitment to be a good practice exemplar in the management of its historic estate. These are balanced against the funding and delivery of defence capability.
	As a landowner MOD has a legal responsibility for the care of designated heritage assets. We work closely with statutory bodies to identify and prioritise work resulting from the regular assessment of the condition of heritage assets.

Archaeology

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has his Department has spent on archaeological and cultural heritage projects in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The MOD has no separate budget to fund archaeological and cultural heritage projects. Funding is embedded within several budget areas, such as existing maintenance, minor new works and project budgets, according to its legislative, planning and policy commitments. Any funding is balanced against the delivery of defence capability.

Archaeology

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department takes to ensure the preservation of archaeological and cultural heritage sites on land it owns; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has formally adopted the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Protocol for the Care of the Government Historic Estate (2003) and The Disposal of Historic Buildings (1999). This approach supports the effective management and sustainable conservation of all its heritage assets, balanced against the delivery of defence capability.
	Performance measurement on the condition of heritage assets is reported on a biennial basis within MODs Heritage Report. The 2005-07 report is available on the Defence Estates website found at the following link:
	http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/publications/corporate/MODHeritageReport2005-2007final.pdf
	There are three aspects of the management of these assets: management and maintenance of the estate; new construction; and liaison with other Government Departments.
	On management and maintenance, the condition of all listed buildings and scheduled monuments is assessed on a four and five year basis respectively. Recommendations are integrated into maintenance and management plans for the asset concerned. Where an asset is considered to be at risk we develop a strategy in conjunction with our heritage partners, local planning authorities and customers.
	A sustainability appraisal is undertaken for each new estate construction project. Heritage issues are managed as part of the design and construction process. Relevant planning consents are obtained in accordance with heritage legislation.
	A formal engagement framework is in place covering liaison with statutory heritage bodies, but we also discuss specific cases with them. As a major stakeholder in the heritage sector, the MOD has also contributed to the development of wider policy and legislation in this area, including the Heritage Protection Bill and the Governments Vision Statement for the Historic Environment.
	The Departments 2007-09 Heritage Report is due to be published in the next few months and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) percentage and  (b) actual shortfall of each equipment type used for pre-deployment training is.

Bill Rammell: The pre-deployment training inventory of equipment includes hundreds of items ranging from existing core holdings to those procured specifically for current operations. A breakdown to the level asked in the question would incur disproportionate cost. It is, however, possible to provide representative figures for major classes of equipment:
	 Dismounted Close Combat (DCC) equipment
	Availability ranges from above 90 per cent. for small arms to below 50 per cent. for complex items such as night vision equipment and Osprey body armour. The situation continues to improve; 75 per cent. of the funded requirement is expected to be met by December 2009 and 100 per cent. by mid-2010.
	 Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) procured vehicles
	The availability of these new types of vehicles is improving from the current figure of just below 50 per cent. As the pace of delivery increases this year, at least 80 per cent. of the funded training fleet for Mastiff, Ridgback and Jackal are expected to be available by November and 100 per cent. is expected to be available by mid-2010.
	 Existing vehicles modified to Theatre Entry Standard (TES)
	Vehicles such as Panther, Viking, Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) and Warrior come from the existing fleet of vehicles; there is no shortage for training and crews and users are largely already qualified and practised in their use. There are some shortages in the number of vehicles specifically modified to TES; availability ranges from below 50 per cent. (CVR(T)) to nearly 60 per cent. (Panther).
	Our priority has always been to get new equipment to the front line as quickly as possible for use by personnel facing the greatest danger. However, we have looked to ensure that sufficient new equipment is provided for troops during pre-deployment training so that they can use it safely and effectively on arrival in theatre. We have recently introduced measures to reinforce this, and all new Urgent Operational Business cases now include a clear requirement that sufficient numbers of pre-deployment vehicles be procured and delivered for training before they are deployed operationally.

Demos

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) private meetings and  (b) public engagements Ministers from his Department have attended at which representatives from the think-tank Demos were present in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much  (a) electricity and  (b) gas was used (i) on his Department's estate and (ii) by his Department's agencies in each year from 2004-05 to 2008-09.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held in the format requested. However, the Ministry of Defence's annual consumption data for electricity and gas for the period 2004-05 to 2007-08 are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  KWh (weather corrected) 
			   Electricity  Gas 
			 2004-05 2,012,300,237 4,162,748,822 
			 2005-06 1,854,817,283 3,643,914,281 
			 2006-07 1,827,263,259 3,551,585,995 
			 2007-08 1,777,378,124 3,076,839,697 
		
	
	The 2008-09 consumption figures for electricity and gas are not yet available but will be reported later in the year in the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate return.
	The figures quoted in the table reflect conversion factors applied by the Office of Government Commerce.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which official is responsible for the energy efficiency of his Department's estate.

Kevan Jones: The second Permanent Under-Secretary in her role as Sustainable Development champion has overall responsibility for energy efficiency on the Ministry of Defence estate.

Departmental Equipment

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of equipment procured by his Department was produced in the UK in each year since 1997.

Quentin Davies: We do not hold information on the proportion of equipment produced in the UK.
	We have, however, produced an estimate of the proportion of MOD equipment expenditure spent with UK prime contractors. This information is set out in the table. Information prior to 2002-03 is not held in the format requested.
	
		
			  Financial year  Percentage MOD equipment expenditure with UK industry 
			 2002-03 84 
			 2003-04 83 
			 2004-05 81 
			 2005-06 81 
			 2006-07 80 
			  Note: VAT exclusive at current prices (£ million).  Source: Defence Analytical Services and Advice analysis of data contained in Table 1.9 and 1.9a of UK Defence Statistics.

Departmental Land

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much and what proportion of land owned by his Department is rated as  (a) Grade 1 and  (b) Grade 2 agricultural land.

Kevan Jones: Information on the grading of agricultural land is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Low Flying: Complaints

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints have been received by the Low Flying Complaints and Enquiries Unit from residents of  (a) Scotland,  (b) England,  (c) Wales and  (d) Northern Ireland in each month in the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The Air Staff Low Flying Complaints and Enquiries Unit (AS LF CEU) record statistics by low flying areas (LFA), not by the country in which they occur. In most cases the attribution is simple, however, some LFAs, LFA 13,16, and 20T cut across the England/Scotland border and LFA 9 cuts across the England/Wales border. In these cases we have attributed the complaints to the country in which the majority of the LFA lies. It would not be cost effective to try and break these figures down further. Northern Ireland has only been included in the UK low flying system since the termination of Op Banner. Figures have therefore only been provided since 1 August 2008; prior to that the majority of flying in the province was deemed to be operational. Copies of the requested information have been placed in the Library of the House.

Military Bases

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider  (a) reducing the frequency of grass cutting on his Department's military bases and  (b) developing wildflower meadows in such locations as a contribution to the Governments targets for biodiversity.

Kevan Jones: The extent to which opportunities to encourage wildlife on grassed areas can be implemented is dictated by the requirements of the site. It is our policy that within the constraints of safety, security and establishment requirements, every opportunity should be taken in grassed areas of the Defence estate to provide habitat for wildlife and plant species. This includes wild flower meadow habitat where this is feasible and appropriate.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many anti-social behaviour orders Newtownabbey Borough Council applied for in each year since 2004.

Paul Goggins: The hon. Gentleman may wish to write to the chief executive of the council for this information.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many anti-social behaviour orders are in force in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The relevant authorities have notified 95 antisocial behaviour orders to the Northern Ireland Office since they were made available on 25 August 2004. Of these 95, 49 are currently still in force.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many anti-social behaviour orders were issued in Northern Ireland in each year since 2004.

Paul Goggins: The relevant authorities have reported 95 antisocial behaviour orders to the Northern Ireland Office since they were made available on 25 August 2004.
	A breakdown of the 95 antisocial behaviour orders issued since 2004 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Number issued 
			 2005 9 
			 2006 32 
			 2007 23 
			 2008 28 
			 2009 3

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many anti-social behaviour orders Larne Borough Council applied for in each year since 2004.

Paul Goggins: The hon. Gentleman may wish to write to the chief executive of the council for this information.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Reserve Forces

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on the retention of a reserve police force in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The Government accepted the recommendations of the Patten Commission that there should be an enlarged part-time reserve, with additional officers coming from areas where there was under-representation, and remain committed to that aim. Recruitment to the PTR is primarily a matter for the Chief Constable in consultation with the Policing Board.
	At the same time, the Government accepted Patten's recommendation, echoing the Royal Ulster Constabulary's own Fundamental Review, that the full-time reserve should be phased out, if the security situation allowed. A programme of severance was negotiated and agreed so that all officers will have left the service by 31 March 2011.
	The Chief Constable's assessments of policing needs and of the security situation inform his decision about the number of full-time reserve officers that is required at any time. The Chief Constable last week recommended that, following his recent review, the current programme of phasing out of the FTR should continue.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Reserve Forces

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of reserve police officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Reserve Forces

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and  (b) the Police Federation of Northern Ireland on the number of reserve police officers in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Secretary of State meets the Chief Constable on a regular basis to discuss policing and security issues.
	The Secretary of State has met representatives of the Police Federation twice in the last six months to hear directly their views on areas of interest to their members, including their concerns about the continuing programme of phasing out of the full-time reserve. The Federation is also in regular contact with officials, including at the quarterly meetings of the Police Advisory Board for Northern Ireland, at which the future of the FTR has been discussed.
	Decisions on the future of the full-time reserve will continue to be made by the Chief Constable in light of his assessment of the security situation and policing needs.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Election Candidates

David Drew: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speakers Committee on the Electoral Commission whether the Electoral Commission has assessed the merits of requiring parliamentary candidates to make full financial disclosures at the point at which they became a candidate; and if he will make a statement.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission currently has no powers to require such disclosures. A new requirement of this nature would need legislation and is therefore a matter for Parliament. The Electoral Commission has previously commented that, while a new requirement could increase transparency in respect of unsuccessful candidates, it would also impose new administrative burdens on all candidates, and on those responsible for administering the new requirement.

WALES

Departmental Internet

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the proposed National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Environment) Order 2009 since its publication for pre-legislative scrutiny; and if he will make it his policy to publish those representations on his departmental website.

Peter Hain: None.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has appointed a special adviser since taking office.

Peter Hain: I have now appointed two special advisers.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Clergy: Ordination

Philip Dunne: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what procedure the Church of England follows to seek approval by the Prime Minister of candidates for senior clergy appointments to be recommended to Her Majesty the Queen.

Stuart Bell: For diocesan bishoprics, the Archbishop of the Province sends to the Prime Minister the name of a candidate chosen by the Crown Nominations Commission (which consists of the archbishops, six members elected by the General Synod, six members elected by the Vacancy in See Committee of the vacant diocese, and the Prime Minister's Secretary for Appointments and the Archbishops' Secretary for Appointments as non-voting members).
	For suffragan bishoprics, the Archbishop of the Province forwards the diocesan bishop's nomination to the Prime Minister. At present two candidates must be nominated, though by convention the first is always chosen. A measure which will be presented to the General Synod for Final Approval this July (and if approved will be presented for parliamentary approval and Royal Assent in the usual way) will change the law so that in future only one candidate will be nominated. The process leading to the bishop's nomination includes interviews by an advisory group.
	For deaneries, the Archbishop of the Province forwards to the Prime Minister the name of a candidate chosen by a selection panel of five voting members, chaired by a lay person appointed by the archbishop and including the diocesan bishop, a lay member elected by and from the bishop's council, a member of the college of canons elected by and from the college, and a priest with experience of cathedral ministry. The Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary and the Archbishops' Secretary for Appointments are non-voting members of the panel.
	For residentiary canonries, the diocesan bishop sends to the Prime Minister the name of the candidate chosen by him after a selection process which follows guidelines adopted by the House of Bishops.
	The Prime Minister advises Her Majesty either to nominate those concerned for formal election by the college of canons of the vacant diocese (in the case of diocesan bishoprics) or to appoint them to the suffragan see, deanery or residentiary canonry concerned.
	Further details of the processes involved may be found on the Church of England website at:
	www.cofe.anglican.org/info/asa/senappt

Stem Cells: Research

Ann Winterton: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what the Church Commissioners' policy is on investment in companies which fund embryonic stem cell research.

Stuart Bell: The Church Commissioners adopted a revised policy on investment in companies involved in human embryonic stem cell research in 2008 following new advice from the Church of England's Ethical Investment Advisory Group. As long as no international ban on human reproductive cloning exists, the Church Commissioners will not invest in companies, a major part of whose businessdefined as over 25 per cent. of turnoveris engaged in the cloning of human embryos. This exclusion also covers companies which use cloning techniques to create cybrids and chimeras combining animal eggs with human DNA.
	In addition, the Ethical Investment Advisory Group, acting on behalf of the Church's investing bodies, engages with companies involved in, or deriving significant use from, research using human embryonic stem cells. In such engagement the Ethical Investment Advisory Group represents the Church's position, namely that such research should be undertaken only when absolutely necessary once all other possible avenues have been explored and the mystery and sanctity of the human embryo are respected.

Stem Cells: Research

Ann Winterton: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if the Church Commissioners will withdraw their investments from companies which fund embryonic stem cell research.

Stuart Bell: The Church Commissioners do not invest in companies, a major part of whose businessdefined as over 25 per cent. of turnoveris engaged in the cloning of human embryos or of cybrids and chimeras which combine animal eggs with human DNA. No changes to this policy are under consideration.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Data Protection

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many breaches of information security there have been at the Government Equalities Office since its creation.

Michael Jabez Foster: Since its creation on 12 October 2007, there have been no breaches of information security within the Government Equalities Office.

Departmental Information Officers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many press officers the Government Equalities Office has employed in each year since its inception; and what the cost of her Office's press office was in each such year.

Michael Jabez Foster: Since its creation on 12 October 2007, the Government Equalities Office has employed the following press office staff at the costs shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number  of press office  posts  Number  of press office  staff employed  Total staff costs (£) 
			 2007-08 2 2 5,738 
			 2008-09 2 (1)5 155,970 
			 2009-10 3 3 (2)25,618 
			 (1) Some of the staff employed were on short-term contracts (2) As at 30 May 2009

Domestic Violence

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what contribution the Government Equalities Office has made to the cross-Government consultation, Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls; and what steps her Office is taking to ensure adequate funding for specialist voluntary sector organisations dealing with violence against women.

Michael Jabez Foster: The Government Equalities Office is closely involved with the cross-Government consultation Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls', as is my Department's advisory non-departmental public body, the Women's National Commission.
	Government expect the majority of funding to specialist voluntary sector organisations dealing with violence against women to come from local bodies, such as local councils and health bodies. In general, funding decisions for local services are determined by local commissioners who are well-placed to identify local needs. Addressing domestic and sexual violence will be a key priority in helping local partnerships to deliver fully on the Public Service Agreement requirements.
	The Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls' consultation closed on 29 May 2009. A key theme for consultation was the promotion of better consistency and quality of provision of services for victims of violence against women and girls. This work will be taken forward during development of a cross-Government strategy.

Government Equalities Office: International Womens Day

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how much the Government Equalities Office spent on promoting International Womens Day 2009.

Michael Jabez Foster: The Government Equalities Office did not spend any money on promoting International Womens Day 2009.
	The Ministers for Women led a debate in the House of Commons on 5 March 2009 on Support for women through the economic downturn and for the future to mark International Womens Day.

Males: Domestic Violence

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many centres for male victims of domestic violence have been opened in each month in each of the last five years.

Michael Jabez Foster: The provision of services to victims of domestic violence is a local issue; local decision makers are best placed to assess local needs. The majority of services are delivered through local providers who are supported and funded by local bodies, such as local councils and health organisations. As such, the Government do not collect information centrally on the number of services available for victims of domestic violence.
	However, the Government do take the issue of domestic violence very seriously and since 1997 have taken significant steps to combat it. The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 was designed to be deliberately gender neutral and we expect all victims of domestic violence to be taken seriously by all services. The Government are funding a Men's Advice Line (0808 801 0327) which has been specifically set up to support male victims of domestic violence.
	In addition, the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) programme has continued to expand and the Government are committed to increasing the number of SDVCs to 128 by 2011. Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences are currently operational in over 200 areas, and will be rolled out nationally by 2011. Furthermore, in 2008-09 we provided over £6 million to support the roll-out of Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs).

Olympic Games 2012

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many full-time equivalent members of staff of the Government Equalities Office are working on projects relating to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; how many of them are working on  (a) project management,  (b) legacy planning,  (c) project oversight and  (d) financial oversight; and what plans she has for future staffing levels in each case.

Michael Jabez Foster: The Government Equalities Office does not have any staff working on projects relating to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Rape: Victim Support Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many organisations have applied for funding to the Special Fund for rape crisis centres for 2009-10; and how much such funding has been applied for.

Michael Jabez Foster: The Special Fund for the sexual violence voluntary sector closed for applications on 5 June 2009 by which time 52 applications had been received. Of these, 51 are eligible for consideration for funding.
	An initial assessment indicates that the total of these 51 applications is £2,322,468.49. Each application will be assessed against the published criteria for support from the fund and applicants informed in due course of the outcome.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate Change

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department has taken to adapt its activities to climate change in the last two years.

Joan Ruddock: All Government Departments are actively involved in the cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change Programme, which aims to help society adapt to climate change. The aim of the programme is to develop and provide a comprehensive evidence base, including adaptation tools, to raise awareness of the need to adapt, to measure success and to work across Government at all levels to embed adaptation. Further details about the programme's work can be found at:
	www.defra.gov/adaptation
	As well as working together to tackle issues that affect all Departments and their work, each Government Department is adapting to climate change in its own operations and policies. Simultaneously, DECC is working to improve the sustainability of the Department and its operations, and to reduce its carbon emissions.

Coal Health Compensation Scheme

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people are receiving assistance under the Coal Health Compensation Scheme.

David Kidney: There are two coal health compensation schemes. The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease scheme (COPD) and the Vibration White Finger scheme (VWF). The Department received over 760,000 claims in total of which 740,000 have been settled as at March 2009.
	There were 592,000 claims registered under the COPD scheme. Of these, over 570,000 have been settled. For VWF, there were 170,000 claims registered, of which 169,000 claims have been settled.
	The COPD scheme is due to be substantially completed on 30 November 2009 and the VWF scheme is substantially completed.

Departmental Surveys

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when his Department plans to undertake a departmental staff survey.

Joan Ruddock: The Department will be conducting a staff survey during October 2009.

Fuel Poverty: Elderly

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what programmes his Department operates to provide assistance to the elderly in fuel poverty; when each was instituted; and how much has been spent under each such programme in each of the last 10 years.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 11 June 2009
	 The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) (1 April 2008-31 March 2011) is the third three-year cycle of the supplier obligation which began on 1 April 2002 (then known as the Energy Efficiency Commitment). This policy places a carbon saving obligation on the main household gas and electricity suppliers. Suppliers are obligated to achieve a percentage of their carbon saving target (this is at least 40 per cent. in CERT) in a priority group of low income and elderly households. The priority group includes all households with a person aged 70 and over. We do not have powers to oblige suppliers to report their expenditure. However, through independent studies commissioned for cost benefit purposes, we estimate that 60 per cent. of suppliers expenditure goes to the priority group. We estimate that over the nine years of the obligation, some £2.7 billion will be invested by suppliers in meeting their priority group obligations.
	Warm Front is the Governments main scheme for tackling fuel poverty and was instituted in 2000. The scheme has spent in excess of £2 billion on a range of energy efficiency measures including insulation and central heating. Since 2005, over half of the schemes total budget has been spent on assisting those over the age of 60. The table shows the breakdown of spending in each year for this phase of the scheme. Figures for the last scheme year (2008-09) are not yet available. It is worth noting that in the 2007-08 scheme year alone, over £37 million of the total was spent on helping those over the age of 81.
	
		
			  Scheme year  Measures spend on clients 60+ (£)  Proportion of total measures spend on clients 60+ (percentage) 
			 2005-06 105,750,589.31 56 
			 2006-07 177,189,810.76 56 
			 2007-08 196,754,669.07 56 
		
	
	The total spend in each year since the scheme was instituted is shown as follows:
	
		
			   Total spend (£ million) 
			 2000-01 72 
			 2001-02 197 
			 2002-03 163 
			 2003-04 164 
			 2004-05 166 
			 2005-06 192 
			 2006-07 320 
			 2007-08 350 
			 2008-09 397

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the level of greenhouse gas emissions from the UK was in each year since 1997; and what the percentage change from 1997 was in each year.

Joan Ruddock: The latest 2007 estimates of greenhouse gas emissions were published on 3 February 2009. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently publishing the DECC climate change statistics and the 2007 Final UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions National Statistics can be found at the following web address:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/globatmos/index.htm
	The following table shows total greenhouse gas emissions 1997-2007 and also carbon dioxide emissions 1997-2007. Percentage changes in emissions for each year are also shown. These figures have been compiled from the DECC Final UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions National Statistics.
	
		
			  Changes in all greenhouse gas emissions and carbon dioxide emissions 1997  to  2007 
			  Million tonnes CO 2  equivalent 
			   Net CO 2  emissions (emissions minus removals )  Percentage change from 1997  Total greenhouse gas emissions (Kyoto basket)  Percentage change from 1997 
			 1997 551.6  709.8  
			 1998 553.6 0 705.4 -1 
			 1999 543.0 -2 672.7 -5 
			 2000 551.1 0 674.7 -5 
			 2001 562.5 2 678.2 -4 
			 2002 544.9 -1 656.4 -8 
			 2003 556.2 1 661.1 -7 
			 2004 555.9 1 658.6 -7 
			 2005 553.2 0 652.8 -8 
			 2006 551.1 0 647.9 -9 
			 2007 542.6 -2 636.6 -10 
			  Notes: 1. Figures for carbon dioxide include the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry sector (LULUCF), but exclude emissions from UK Overseas Territories. 2. The Kyoto basket total differs slightly from sum of individual pollutants above as the basket uses a narrower definition for the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry sector (LULUCF), and includes emissions from UK Overseas Territories. 3. The entire time series is revised each year to take account of methodological improvements in the UK emissions inventory. 4. Emissions are presented as carbon dioxide equivalent in line with international reporting and carbon trading. To convert Carbon dioxide into carbon equivalents, divide figures by 44/12.  5. Figures shown do not include any adjustment for the effect of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EUETS), which was introduced in 2005.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many certified installers of each type of technology under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme there were in each region of the UK in each month since the programme began; and if he will make a statement.

David Kidney: Currently there are over 250 installer companies registered to carry out work under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP). More installer companies are in the process of being assessed.
	Data collected by Low Carbon Buildings Programme managers are now held by month, by technology and by region (see table). These data reflect where installer companies are willing to work and not where they are based.
	A list of certified installers by company address, technology, the region they can operate in (but not by month) is available on the Low Carbon Buildings Programme website at:
	http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/info/installers/find/installerfind
	
		
			  Numbers of LCBP installers per region 
			   Region 
			  Technology  Eastern  East Midlands  London  North East  North West  South East  South West  West Midlands  Yorks and Humber  Northern Ireland  Scotland  Wales 
			  September 2006 
			 Solar PV 29 32 36 24 27 35 33 35 26 22 22 29 
			 Solar Thermal 70 73 76 62 68 96 91 77 61 45 64 68 
			 Wind Turbines 32 34 31 34 36 33 35 36 32 31 35 35 
			 GSHP 27 26 25 29 30 28 30 26 26 33 34 26 
			 Hydro 11 11 10 11 13 9 10 11 10 9 14 11 
			 Biomass Boiler 19 22 21 20 24 21 25 25 23 22 20 27 
			 Biomass Stoves 12 15 14 11 15 14 18 18 14 15 12 20 
			  
			  December 2006 
			 Solar PV 18 21 23 18 21 23 25 26 20 17 15 24 
			 Solar Thermal 94 89 93 74 79 116 110 92 71 54 73 79 
			 Wind Turbines 37 39 36 40 41 38 40 43 38 36 40 41 
			 GSHP 30 28 27 31 32 30 32 29 28 35 35 29 
			 Hydro 11 11 10 11 13 9 10 11 10 9 14 11 
			 Biomass Boiler 24 28 26 29 31 27 30 31 30 27 28 33 
			 Biomass Stoves 17 21 19 20 22 20 23 23 21 19 20 25 
			  
			  April 2007 
			 Solar PV 33 36 39 29 32 39 39 40 31 23 24 35 
			 Solar Thermal 111 113 113 89 97 138 134 111 91 60 95 95 
			 Wind Turbines 50 53 48 53 54 49 50 56 52 43 54 51 
			 GSHP 40 38 36 41 44 39 43 38 37 41 47 39 
			 Hydro 12 12 11 12 14 10 11 12 11 10 15 12 
			 Biomass Boiler 30 35 32 33 36 33 36 37 35 29 35 39 
			 Biomass Stoves 23 28 25 24 26 25 28 28 26 21 26 30 
			  
			  June 2008 
			 Solar PV 63 63 63 62 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 
			 Solar Thermal 149 149 150 150 150 149 149 149 149 149 150 149 
			 Wind Turbines 64 64 64 63 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 
			 GSHP 56 56 56 55 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 
			 Hydro 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Biomass Boiler 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 
			 Biomass Stoves 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 
			  
			  September 2008 
			 Solar PV 69 69 69 68 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 
			 Solar Thermal 153 152 154 153 153 152 152 152 152 152 153 152 
			 Wind Turbines 67 67 67 66 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 
			 GSHP 60 60 60 59 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 
			 Hydro 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Biomass Boiler 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 35 34 
			 Biomass Stoves 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 29 28 
			  
			  October 2008 
			 Solar PV 69 69 68 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 
			 Solar Thermal 154 153 154 155 154 153 153 153 153 153 154 153 
			 Wind Turbines 67 67 66 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 
			 GSHP 61 61 60 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 
			 Hydro 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Biomass Boiler 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 33 32 
			 Biomass Stoves 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 27 26 
			  
			  November 2008 
			 Solar PV 74 74 74 73 74 74 74 74 74 74 74 74 
			 Solar Thermal 163 162 164 164 164 162 .162 162 163 162 163 162 
			 Wind Turbines 67 67 67 66 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 
			 GSHP 66 66 66 65 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 
			 Hydro 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Biomass Boiler 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 34 33 
			 Biomass Stoves 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 28 27 
			  
			  December 2008 
			 Solar PV 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 
			 Solar Thermal 167 166 168 168 168 166 166 166 167 166 168 166 
			 Wind Turbines 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 
			 GSHP 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 
			 Hydro 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Biomass Boiler 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 35 34 
			 Biomass Stoves 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 29 28 
			  
			  January 2009 
			 Solar PV 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 
			 Solar Thermal 176 175 177 177 177 175 175 175 176 175 177 175 
			 Wind Turbines 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 
			 GSHP 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 
			 Hydro 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Biomass Boiler 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 38 37 
			 Biomass Stoves 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 32 31 
			  
			  February 2009 
			 Solar PV 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 
			 Solar Thermal 180 180 182 182 182 181 181 180 181 180 182 180 
			 Wind Turbines 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 
			 GSHP 84 84 84 84 84 84 85 84 84 84 84 84 
			 Hydro 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Biomass Boiler 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 39 38 
			 Biomass Stoves 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 33 32 
			  
			  March 2009 
			 Solar PV 89 89 89 88 88 89 89 88 88 88 88 88 
			 Solar Thermal 189 189 191 190 190 190 190 189 189 189 191 190 
			 Wind Turbines 78 78 78 78 78 78 78 78 78 78 78 78 
			 GSHP 88 88 88 88 88 88 89 88 88 88 88 88 
			 Hydro 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Biomass Boiler 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 
			 Biomass Stoves 3G 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36

Warm Front Scheme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many complaints he has received from hon. Members about Warm Front in each of the last two years.

Joan Ruddock: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 4 June 2009,  Official Report, column 632W.

Warm Front Scheme: East of England

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many houses in  (a) North West Cambridgeshire,  (b) Cambridgeshire constituency,  (c) the East of England region and  (d) Peterborough have had insulation installed under the Warm Front scheme in each of the last five years.

David Kidney: The following table details the numbers of homes insulated by Warm Front in  (a) North West Cambridgeshire,  (b) Cambridgeshire,  (c) the East of England and  (d) Peterborough during the current phase of the Warm Front Scheme (beginning 2005). Prior to 2005, this area of the scheme was managed by a different scheme manager and comprehensive data are not available. North West Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are all constituencies which make up the figures for the East of England and therefore the number of households assisted is also included in this total figure.
	
		
			  Area/scheme year  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 North West Cambridgeshire 40 150 123 137 
			 Cambridgeshire 261 907 900 822 
			 East of England 2,809 8,980 10,161 10,825 
			 Peterborough 50 157 146 203

Warm Front Scheme: Essex

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) applications for and  (b) awards from the Warm Front scheme there were for those resident in Essex in each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Joan Ruddock: The following table provides details on (a) the number of eligible applicants to Warm Front in Essex since 2005 and  (b) the number of households assisted in each financial year available.
	
		
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  Total 
			 Eligible applications 5,361 8,793 11,009 12,374 37,537 
			 Assisted households 3,437 6,990 8,516 9,803 28,746 
			  Note:  Figures prior to 2005 are not available as Essex came under the jurisdiction of another scheme manager and the data retained are not sufficient.

TRANSPORT

Air Passenger Duty

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many passengers travelled by air to destinations that would now be classified as Air Passenger Duty Bands  (a) A,  (b) B,  (c) C and  (d) D in 2008.

Paul Clark: The following table shows the number of passengers who travelled by air to destinations that would now be classified as air passenger duty (APD) bands A, B, C and D in 2008.
	
		
			  APD band  Passengers ( m illion) 
			 A 92.8 
			 B 16.8 
			 C 6.3 
			 D 2.0 
			  Notes: 1. Band A includes domestic flights. 2. APD is not paid on flights departing from airports in the Scottish Highlands and Islands.  Source: DfT analysis of Civil Aviation Authority data.

Aircraft: Repairs and Maintenance

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what directions his Department issues on the procedures to be followed for the maintenance and servicing of aircraft flown by commercial operators from UK airports.

Paul Clark: The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is responsible for the development of regulatory procedures to ensure the continued airworthiness of all UK and European registered aircraft, which are engaged in commercial operations. The Civil Aviation Authority is empowered by the Department for Transport to carry out checks and inspections with a view to ensuring that UK operators comply with EASA procedures.
	Foreign aircraft flying to or from the UK require permission from the Secretary of State for Transport and it is a condition of obtaining his permission that they comply with safety standards promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department for Transport operates a programme of ramp checks to ensure that ICAO standards are being adhered to and we are currently increasing our number of annual checks to some 1,000 in 2009-10. Where foreign aircraft are found to fall short of ICAO standards, we will take action to ensure that they remedy the deficiencies, up to and including removing their permission to fly here. We will also refer such airlines to the European Union's Air Safety Committee, which has the power to impose a Europe-wide ban.

Aviation

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions his Department has had with the International Civil Aviation Organisation on reviewing the Extended Range Twin-Engine Operations dispensation.

Paul Clark: Civil aviation safety in the UK is regulated by independent aviation safety regulators: the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) which is responsible for aircraft design and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
	Extended Range Twin-Engine Operations (ETOPS) was developed to enable twin-engined aircraft to fly the same direct routings as aircraft with three or four engines and has been in existence since 1985. It has an excellent safety record and last year the International Civil Aviation Organisation set up a Special Operations Task Force to consider whether some of the aeroplane certification, maintenance and operational procedures that are required for an ETOPS approval should be extended to three and four-engined operations. The CAA is represented on the taskforce, the work of which is ongoing.

Aviation

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will estimate the likely effect of an increase in the average cost of a domestic flight by one-third on passenger numbers.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transports UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts, published in January 2009, reports the elasticity of domestic demand with respect to air fares in table 2.1, page 17. The report is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/atf/co2forecasts09/
	This elasticity determines the responsiveness of domestic demand for air travel to changes in fares, before airport capacity constraints have been accounted for.
	No estimate of the effect on passenger demand of an increase of one-third in the domestic air fare is available.

Aviation: Safety

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has discussed with the Civil Aviation Authority the replacement of pitot tubes of the type used by the aircraft involved in the Air France flight 447 crash with alternative designs.

Paul Clark: Civil aviation safety in the UK is regulated by independent aviation safety regulators: the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) which is responsible for aircraft design and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
	EASA continues to review the reliability of the pitot tubes used by the aircraft involved in the Air France flight 447 crash. The CAA is in regular contact with EASA and UK industry on this issue to ensure timely action is taken if and when necessary.

Aviation: Safety

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many A330 and A340 planes using UK airports use pitot tubes of the same type as the aircraft involved in the Air France flight 447 crash to assist in the measurement of airspeed.

Paul Clark: Civil aviation safety in the UK is regulated by independent aviation safety regulators: the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is responsible for the regulation of aircraft design, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
	The pitot tubes fitted to the Air France Flight 447 Airbus A330 aircraft meet the current EASA design requirements, and are therefore a common feature of many Airbus aircraft that utilise UK airports. EASA continues to review the reliability of these pitot tubes. The CAA is in regular contact with EASA and UK industry to ensure timely action is taken if and when necessary.

Aviation: Safety

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what research his Department has  (a) undertaken and  (b) commissioned on the reliability of equipment for measuring air speed used in A330 and A340 aircraft in the last two years.

Paul Clark: Civil aviation safety in the UK is regulated by independent aviation safety regulators: the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is responsible for the regulation of aircraft design, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). As such, the Department for Transport does not undertake or commission research in this area.
	EASA continues to review the reliability of pitot tubes by collecting data on the dependability of their air speed measurements. The CAA is being kept informed of developments.

Demos

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what  (a) private meetings and  (b) public engagements Ministers in his Department have attended at which representatives from the think-tank Demos were present in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Departmental Correspondence

Alistair Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what percentage of letters to his Department from hon. Members' Parliamentary offices were answered within 30 days of the date of receipt in each quarter from January 2008 to March 2009.

Chris Mole: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members correspondence. The report for 2008 was published on 2 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 80-86WS.

Departmental Lost Property

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many laptop computers belonging to  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have been lost or stolen in the last five years.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport includes seven agencies, a shared service centre and the central Department. The figures provided here for lost and stolen laptop computers do not include losses or thefts where records are not available, where equipment has not been procured centrally, or where such losses or thefts were not reported.
	The total number of laptop computers recorded as lost and stolen from the central Department since January 2004 is 14.
	The number of laptop computers recorded as lost and stolen from the Department's Executive agencies since January 2004 is 91.

DVLA: Disclosure of Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many requests for information in respect of the registered keeper of a vehicle were made to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in 2008-09; how many of those were received  (a) in electronic form and  (b) by post from (i) DVLA-accredited trade associations, (ii) non-DVLA-accredited car park operators, (iii) individuals and (iv) others; and how many in each such category were (A) accepted and (B) refused.

Paul Clark: The following tables provides the information requested where it is available.
	
		
			Of which: 
			   Total  Submitted electronically  Submitted by post 
			 Requests for information received during 2008-09 21,115,951 18,318,355 2,797,596 
			 (i) Requests from car parking operators who are members of a DVLA accredited trade association (1) 1,480,044 (1) 
			 (ii) Requests from car parking operators who are not members of a DVLA accredited trade association (1) 0 (1) 
			 (iii) Requests from individuals (1) 0 (1) 
			 (iv) Requests from others (local authorities, police, Transport for London, etc.) (1) 16,838,311 (1) 
			 (1) Information not available separately. 
		
	
	Of all these requests:
	
		
			Of which: 
			   Total  Submitted electronically  Submitted by post 
			 Those accepted 21,070,722 18,318,355 2,752,367 
			 Those refused 45,229 0 45,229 
		
	
	Applications for information in respect of the registered keeper are not received from accredited trade associations but rather from their members.

East Coast Railway Line

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether the premium payments announced in respect of the Inter City East Coast rail franchise were based on the assumption that unregulated fares would rise by RPI plus 2.1 per cent.

Chris Mole: holding answer 18 June 2009
	 As indicated when the Inter City East Coast rail franchise was awarded in August 2007, NXEC had indicated that they may wish to raise unregulated fares over the course of the franchise by an average of retail prices index plus 2.1 per cent. per annum.
	The levels of unregulated fares are a commercial matter for individual train operators. For business planning purposes, operators may make assumptions of any projected changes to unregulated fares, but this is a matter for the operator concerned.

Kemble-Swindon Railway Line

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects to receive the report on the evaluation of the re-doubling of the Swindon-Kemble line; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: Network Rail is undertaking an initial study to design and price a scheme to re-instate a second track between Swindon and Kemble. The study is expected to report in 2010.

Lorries

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent research his Department has conducted on the prevalence of colour blindness among heavy goods vehicle drivers; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: There has been no recent research undertaken on the prevalence of colour blindness in HGV drivers.

M1

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reason the M1 motorway was closed between junctions 6 and 8 on 11 June 2009; who authorised the closure; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: Hertfordshire police closed the M1 Motorway between Junctions 6 and 8 northbound on the 11 June 2009 as a member of the public, who had climbed onto a gantry, stated he would jump if a vehicle passed underneath.

M25: Repairs and Maintenance

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects the roadworks and lane closures between junction 16 and junction 19 of the M25 to be ended.

Chris Mole: The roadworks and lane closures on the M25 between junctions 16 and 19 are scheduled to end in summer 2011.
	The current roadworks between junctions 16 and 18 form part of the first phase of the widening and are scheduled to be completed in summer 2010.
	The second phase of widening will then take place between junctions 18 and 21 commencing in summer 2010 and is scheduled to complete in summer 2011.

M40

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reason the M40 motorway was closed on 11 June 2009; who authorised the closure; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: The link road between M40 northbound and M42 southbound was closed overnight between 00.45 and 04.40 hours on 11 June, for the installation of electronic queue detection equipment.
	The link road between M42 northbound and M40 southbound was closed overnight between 21.55 on 11 June to 03.37 on 12 June for routine road maintenance comprising white lining and road stud renewal.
	Both closures were authorised by the Highways Agency under a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order, published in accordance with statutory procedures. They were advertised in local newspapers and signs notifying drivers of the closures were installed in advance of the start of works.
	Highways Agency policy is to carry out works of this type during off-peak periods when traffic volumes are at their lowest, so that the least disruption is caused to road users.

Motorcycles: Accidents

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many moped riders aged  (a) 16,  (b) 17,  (c) 18,  (d) 19 and  (e) 20 years old were (i) injured and (ii) killed in road traffic accidents (A) in the London Borough of Wandsworth, (B) in London and (C) England in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: The number of (i) injured casualties and (ii) fatalities resulting from reported personal injury road accidents for moped riders aged  (a) 16,  (b) 17,  (c) 18,  (d) 19 and  (e) 20 years old in (A) London borough of Wandsworth, (B) London and (C) England for each of the last five years is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of injured and fatal casualties by age of moped riders( 1)  in Greater London, London borough of Wandsworth and England: 2003-07 
			  Number of casualties from injury accidents reported to the police 
			London borough of Wandsworth( 2)  Greater London( 2)  England 
			   Age  Injured  Killed  Injured  Killed  Injured  Killed 
			 2003 16 8 0 141 0 1,718 5 
			  17 2 0 74 0 787 4 
			  18 1 0 33 0 288 0 
			  19 0 0 22 0 145 3 
			  20 2 0 18 0 99 1 
			 2004 16 2 0 129 0 1,827 10 
			  17 5 0 74 0 848 2 
			  18 2 0 47 0 277 1 
			  19 2 0 32 0 141 1 
			  20 1 0 21 0 95 0 
			 
			 2005 16 0 0 149 1 1,807 3 
			  17 2 0 99 1 847 4 
			  18 2 0 67 0 246 2 
			  19 0 0 37 1 132 2 
			  20 3 0 36 0 89 1 
			 
			 2006 16 3 0 92 0 1,802 8 
			  17 2 0 72 0 758 9 
			  18 1 0 35 0 198 2 
			  19 0 0 29 0 136 0 
			  20 1 0 21 0 68 0 
			 
			 2007 16 1 0 59 0 1,684 4 
			  17 0 0 30 0 742 2 
			  18 2 0 24 0 228 1 
			  19 0 0 13 0 136 0 
			  20 1 0 17 1 96 1 
			 (1) Motorcycles with engine size of 50 cc or less. (2) Source: Transport for London. 
		
	
	The 2008 statistics will be available on 25 June 2009.

Motorcycles: Driving Instruction

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many moped riders aged  (a) 16,  (b) 17,  (c) 18,  (d) 19 and  (e) 20 years old took compulsory basic training in (i) England, (ii) the London Borough of Wandsworth and (iii) London in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: The Driving Standards Agency does not hold records on how many individual moped riders took a compulsory basic training course in the manner requested.

Motorcycles: Licensing

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what percentage of  (a) 16,  (b) 17,  (c) 18,  (d) 19 and  (e) 20 year-olds resident in (i) the London Borough of Wandsworth, (ii) London and (iii) England hold a provisional moped licence.

Paul Clark: The following table provides the total number of provisional moped licence holders by age and location. The percentage against total residents in these areas is not available to the Department for Transport:
	
		
			 Wandsworth 
			  Age  England  London  SW15  SW18  SW19 
			 16 56,791 3,554 19 29 32 
			 17 315,346 17,801 195 179 264 
			 18 267,336 22,332 217 224 288 
			 19 229,826 23,571 208 207 271 
			 20 211,974 23,351 213 207 250

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if the Secretary of State will make it his policy to ensure that traffic information on motorway closures is given out to motorists at the earliest opportunity via  (a) radio broadcasts and  (b) digital road information signs; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: It is already our clear policy to do so. The Highways Agency aims to inform customers as quickly as possible about traffic conditions and incidents on the motorway and trunk road network, using many channels. Information is provided directly to the media through dedicated services such as the Highways Agencys websiteTraffic Englandwhich carries comprehensive and up-to-date information, and the agency now operates its own DAB radio serviceTraffic Radiogiving continuously updated news and information about the network. The agency also aims to keep the messages on its roadside variable message signs as accurate, reliable and helpful to the travelling public as possible.

Railways: East Midlands

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether the premium payments announced in respect of the East Midlands rail franchise awarded to Stagecoach in June 2007 were based on an assumption that unregulated fares would rise by on average of RPI plus 3.4 per cent.

Chris Mole: holding answer 18 June 2009
	 As indicated when the East Midlands franchise was awarded in June 2007, the planning assumption made in the Stagecoach bid was that unregulated fares would increase, on average, by retail prices index plus 3.4 per cent. per annum.
	The levels of unregulated fares are a commercial matter for individual train operators. For business planning purposes, operators may make assumptions of any projected changes to unregulated fares, but this is a matter for the operator concerned.

Railways: Electrification

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what funding his Department is planning to provide for the electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak rail line; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: holding answer 22 June 2009
	In January 2009 the Department for Transport made an offer to contribute a capital sum towards the cost of the electrification of the Gospel Oak to Barking line conditional on Transport for London (TfL) taking forward the project, including working up a business case, finding the balance of the cost and bearing all risks.
	The Department's contribution could be up to £25 million, the amount depending on as yet undefined savings against the budget for the North London Line Camden Road freight scheme announced last year.
	TfL has now indicated that there is now little likelihood that it could undertake to fund and bear the risks of the electrification scheme.

Railways: Finance

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much capital funding the Government has allocated to the rail network in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point in each of the last five years.

Chris Mole: The information is not available in the form requested. A breakdown of annual expenditure by mode and region is available in the Department for Transports annual report and details of total historic expenditure are available in National Rail Trends which is published by the Office of Rail Regulation. Copies of these documents are available in the Libraries of the House.

Railways: Hearing Impaired

David Anderson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department has taken to make railway stations accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: Since 2006 around £12.4 million has been offered from the Access for All Small Schemes Fund for projects at stations benefiting deaf and hard of hearing people. These have included induction loops at 317 stations, new customer information systems at 146 stations, improved signage at 198 stations, help points at 404 stations and information boards and screens at 39 stations.

Railways: Hearing Impaired

David Anderson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department has taken to encourage rail franchisees to make services accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people in the last five years.

Chris Mole: All rail franchisees are required to have a Disabled Persons' Protection Policy, which sets out how they will assist disabled passengers to use their services. This includes commitments that all on-train and station passenger information systems will give both aural and visual information where possible, including ad hoc announcements about service delays. In addition, pre-booked assistance lines are required to have a minicom or textphone number available.
	Any new or upgraded infrastructure at stations must comply with "Accessible Train and Station Design for Disabled people: A Code of Practice", which includes the provision of proper signage and induction loops. All customer facing staff are also required to receive disability awareness training which includes how to assist deaf or hard of hearing passengers.
	Since 1998, all new trains have been required to meet modern accessibility standards, which rail franchisees also use as the appropriate standard when undertaking major refurbishment work to older vehicles. Almost 5000 new trains now meet the standards, which include requirements for audio and visual passenger information systems, and door controls that are illuminated when they are operable. Last year, the Government set 1 January 2020 as the date by which time the entire national rail fleet must be accessible.
	The winner of the new South Central franchise has also committed to monitor the success of its assisted passengers reservation system, which enables customers to book staff assistance before travelling.

Roads: Accidents

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many road traffic accidents took place where colour blindness was stated as contributing to the cause of the accident in the last 12 months.

Paul Clark: The information requested is not available. The police officers do not record colour blindness as a contributory factor to an accident.

Roads: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many  (a) fatal and  (b) non-fatal road traffic accidents were recorded on roads in (a) Southampton and (b) Test Valley borough in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: The number of  (a) fatal and  (b) non-fatal reported personal injury road accidents recorded on roads in (a) Southampton and (b) the Test Valley borough in each of the last five years is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of accidents 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  Southampton  
			 Fatal 6 2 4 4 5 
			 Non-fatal 832 824 727 697 699 
			   
			  Test Valley borough  
			 Fatal 12 7 10 6 8 
			 Non-fatal 410 364 301 345 373 
		
	
	The 2008 statistics will be available on 25 June 2009.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the capital budget of the Highways Agency for  (a) maintenance and  (b) enhancement work was in each of the last five years.

Chris Mole: Capital budgets for enhancing the trunk road network including capital maintenance for each of the last five years are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   (a) Maintenance capital budget  (b) Capital budget (excluding maintenance) 
			 2004-05 24 540 
			 2005-06 39 717 
			 2006-07 31 1,093 
			 2007-08 30 1,030 
			 2008-09 108 1,156 
		
	
	Capital funds are used for delivering additions and improvements to the road network, and enhancements to the technology assets associated with the network.
	The capital maintenance budgets shown above are primarily for renewals of technology equipment on the strategic road network.
	In 2008-09, as part of the 2007 comprehensive spending review, the capital maintenance budget included an assumption for roads and structures renewals that could be undertaken as part of a Major Scheme improvement. Prior to 2008-09, this would have been classified as resource expenditure. This explains the increase in the indicative budget when compared to previous years.

Shipping: Pollution

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what measures his Department plans to implement in respect of  (a) carbon dioxide emissions and  (b) other pollution from shipping in the next two years.

Paul Clark: In the next two years the Department for Transport's focus will be on ensuring that the agreement at the Copenhagen conference in December 2009 incorporates an international commitment to address carbon dioxide emissions from the shipping sector, and on working in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to deliver international measures to regulate ship energy efficiency and to achieve agreement on an economic instrument which will achieve reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from shipping.
	Turning to other pollutants, we plan to implement the revisions to the international regime governing air pollution from ships which were adopted at the IMO in 2008, and to implement measures to address the management of ships' ballast water.

Tractors

James Paice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many tractor registrations there were in each year since 1997.

Paul Clark: The number of agricultural tractors newly registered in Great Britain in each year since 2001 were as follows:
	
		
			   Number of agricultural tractors newly registered ( t housand ) 
			 2001 12.9 
			 2002 15.3 
			 2003 15.9 
			 2004 16.0 
			 2005 15.0 
			 2006 15.5 
			 2007 17.6 
			 2008 19.4 
		
	
	Statistics from years prior to 2001 are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Transport

Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps he plans to take to improve the main transport routes in the UK.

Chris Mole: holding answer 22 June 2009
	The publication of Delivering a Sustainable Transport System (DaSTS) in November 2008 re-iterated the Department's commitment to serious long term transport planning.
	We are investing £15 billion up to 2014 to transform the rail network, redeveloping stations and lengthening platforms. We are also delivering 1,300 extra carriages which will provide around 10,000 extra seats per day.
	In January we announced up to £6 billion investment in the national strategic roads network. This will fund schemes on our major motorways including the M1, M6, M25 and M62 and major trunk roads the A1 and A14. This will deliver around 520 additional lane miles including 340 lane miles of hard shoulder running.
	We have also set up a company, High Speed Two, to develop proposals for a high speed line to the West Midlands possibly via interchange at Heathrow, with options for links to the North and Scotland.

Transport: Carbon Emissions

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the costs and benefits for the transport sector of carbon dioxide emissions trading.

Sadiq Khan: The information requested is as follows:
	 Aviation
	In preparation for the inclusion of the aviation sector in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) from 2012, the Department has commissioned the following studies:
	Including Aviation into the EU ETS: Impact on EU allowance prices' (2006) commissioned jointly with DEFRA
	A Study to Estimate Ticket price Changes for Aviation in the EU ETS' (2007) commissioned jointly with DEFRA
	The impacts of the use of different benchmarking methodologies on the initial allocation of emission trading scheme permits to airlines' (2007) commissioned jointly with the Environment Agency
	A study to estimate the impacts of emissions trading on profits in aviation' (2007) commissioned jointly with DEFRA.
	In addition, the Department has reviewed and considered a wide range of other studies that have been undertaken on the costs and benefits of carbon dioxide emissions trading for the aviation sector.
	 Roads
	The Department for Transport has not specifically commissioned research on emissions trading for road transport.
	 Shipping
	The Department for Transport has not commissioned or evaluated research exclusively on the costs and benefits of emissions trading in respect of carbon dioxide emissions from ships.

Transport: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much funding his Department allocated to transport networks used primarily for tourism in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point in each of the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: Funding provided by the Department for Transport to local transport authorities is not generally ring-fenced and local authorities have discretion to spend their allocations in line with their priorities. Figures are not available at constituency level.
	The Department provides integrated transport block and highways maintenance funding to local transport authorities to support capital investment in transport, which may be used for a range of purposes as the authorities see fit. Funding support provided to Essex county council in the last five years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Essex county council 
			   £ million 
			 2008-09 33,638 
			 2007-08 34,946 
			 2006-07 30,009 
			 2005-06 31,888 
			 2004-05 26,876 
		
	
	Revenue expenditure on transport is generally supported through the Department for Communities and Local Government's Formula Grant.

Transport: Sight Impaired

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with regard to what forms of transport colour-blindness is tested as part of driver proficiency tests.

Paul Clark: The Driving Standards Agency does not test colour-blindness as part of the practical or theory test for any vehicle category.

Transport: Young People

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department is taking to consult young people on decisions relating to transport provision; and what other steps he is taking to increase levels of involvement of young people in decisions affecting their use of transport.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transports overarching aim is to provide transport that works for everyoneincluding young people, from infants to young adultsthrough a transport system that balances the needs of the economy, the environment and society.
	Most of the Departments research into public attitudes involves understanding the views of young people from 16 years old. The Department proactively leads or participates in widespread consultations with young people, on a formal and informal basis, actively seeking their views on transport plans, issues and concerns. The Department also conducts research and runs consultations on the travel habits of children as well as young adults.
	Transport Ministers have regular engagement with young people through organisations such as the UK Youth Parliament (for 11 to 18-year-olds) which regularly discusses key transport issues affecting young people. The Department has also worked with the National Youth Agency to develop ways of making transport more accessible to young people.
	The Department educates children on road safety directly and via parents and schools (Think! Campaign). The Department also, through Cycling England, funds training on safer cycling for children, and seeks their views and their parents views on it.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he plans to answer Question 279865, tabled on 10 June 2009, on the Health and Safety Executive.

Paul Clark: I replied to the hon. Member on 17 June 2009,  Official Report, column 297W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: Overseas Aid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that levels of development assistance provided to Africa by his Department are maintained during the economic downturn.

Gareth Thomas: The April 2009 Budget confirmed levels of UK official development assistance originally laid out in the comprehensive spending review of 2007. The Department for International Developments (DFID) expenditure in Africa is now projected to be £3.4 billion in 2010-11. This ensures that the UK will deliver on its commitments to Africa made at Gleneagles in 2005.

Darfur: International Assistance

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his most recent estimate is of the number of humanitarian aid organisations operating in Darfur; and what assessment he has made of their capacity to meet the needs of those who need their assistance.

Gareth Thomas: According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) there are 83 international NGOs and UN agencies working in Darfur. 13 NGOs were expelled on 4 and 5 March 2009. The UK Government have repeatedly called on the Government of Sudan (GoS) to allow all expelled NGOs to return.
	Following the NGO expulsions, a joint UN-GoS mission concluded that immediate needs were being met, due to quick action by line ministries, the remaining NGOs, and UN agencies. GoS has committed to filling medium-term gaps in life-saving sectors such as health and water and sanitation. Meanwhile, the UK is monitoring coverage and quality of delivery of partners to scale up activities.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions arising from road-based transport for administrative operations by his Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff.

Michael Foster: The carbon dioxide emissions from road-based transport, as reported to the Sustainable Development Commission, were as follows:
	
		
			   Carbon dioxide (tonnes)  Per FTE 
			 2006-07 33 0.019 
			 2007-08 14 0.008 
		
	
	This includes ministerial vehicles only.

Departmental Data Protection

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many breaches of information security there have been at  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in the last five years.

Michael Foster: In the last five years there have been 22 breaches of information security.
	My Department and its agencies report all significant personal data security breaches to the Cabinet Office and the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). Information on personal data security breaches are published on an annual basis in the department's annual resource accounts as was announced in the Data Handling Review published on 25 June 2008.
	Additionally, all significant control weaknesses including other significant security breaches are included in the Statement of Internal Control which is published within the annual resource accounts.

Departmental Electricity

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the percentage of electricity used by his Department which was derived from renewable sources in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Michael Foster: The percentage of energy derived from renewable sources, as reported to the Sustainable Development Commission, on the UK estate was as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2006-07 96.7 
			 2007-08 100

Departmental Energy

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the energy consumed per full-time equivalent member of staff in his Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Michael Foster: The amount of energy consumed in our UK estate per full-time equivalent, as reported to the Sustainable Development Commission, is as follows:
	
		
			   kWh 
			 2006-07 7,071 
			 2007-08 6,700

Departmental Lost Property

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many laptop computers belonging to  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have been lost or stolen in the last five years.

Michael Foster: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The Department for International Development's (DFID's) central accounting records detailing write-off and lost information holds the following data in relation to laptop computers:
	
		
			  Classification  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Lost 0 0 0 0 4 
			 Stolen 6 6 3 8 2 
		
	
	All DFID laptops have secure encryption technology and no data have been put at risk. All losses and thefts are investigated by our Business Solutions Division and Security section for breach of security practice.
	 (b) We do not have any agencies.

Departmental Recycling

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) volume and  (b) percentage of waste his Department recycled in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Michael Foster: The amount of recycled waste, and its proportion of total waste produced, for the Department for International Developments United Kingdom estate was as follows:
	
		
			   Recycled waste (tonnes)  As percentage of total waste 
			 2006-07 266 80.9 
			 2007-08 214.6 81.3

Departmental Waste

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the amount of waste arising from his Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff.

Michael Foster: The amount of waste produced by the Department for International Developments UK estate, as reported to the Sustainable Development Commission, is as follows:
	
		
			   Waste (tonnes)  Per FTE 
			 2006-07 329 0.19 
			 2007-08 263.9 0.15

Departmental Water

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the water consumption on his Departments estate in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07, (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff.

Michael Foster: The water consumption on DFIDs UK estate for this period, and thereafter, was as follows:
	
		
			   Water use (cu m)  Water use (per full-time equivalent member of staff) 
			 2005-06 13,556 6.7 
			 2006-07 12,398 7.1 
			 2007-08 17,223 10.0 
		
	
	Our latest figures for 2008-09 show we achieved a significant reduction to 9,341 cubic metres. This was due to a number of initiatives such as waterless urinals and dual flush cisterns. These data are reported annually in the Sustainable Development Commissions Report Sustainable Development in Government.

Departmental Work Experience

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many  (a) paid and  (b) unpaid graduate internships his Department has awarded in each of the last six months.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development has not awarded any paid or unpaid internships in each of the last six months.

G8

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the outcome of the G8 Development Ministers meeting on 11 and 12 June 2009 was; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The meeting highlighted the need for a strong, coherent and coordinated response to the challenges faced by the poorest countries as a result of the economic crisis. It also reaffirmed G8 commitments on increasing official development assistance (ODA) made at previous G8 summits. Development Ministers also agreed to strengthen our accountability to show progress towards meeting existing pledges.
	The G8 Development Ministers had a successful meeting discussing the broad spectrum of development issues. This will provide a sound basis for moving forward the development agenda at the G8 Leaders summit in July. For detail of what was discussed and agreed I refer the hon. Member to the Chairs Summary of the G8 Development Ministers Meeting, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

International Assistance: Children

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he plans to take towards fulfilment of his commitment to assist children in conflict zones to attend schools.

Michael Foster: Over the period 2002-03 to 2007-08 the Department for International Development (DFID) has more than doubled bilateral support to education in fragile states. In 2007 DFID outlined further plans for increasing support to education for children affected by conflict or living in fragile states. This 2007 announcement by Gordon Brown included commitments to provide financial support for education in specific conflict and post-conflict states. Significant progress has been made in these countries. In Afghanistan DFID has contributed £60 million to the Afghanistan reconstruction trust fund that meets the costs of 100,000 teachers. DFID's total contributions in Afghanistan to date have helped increase the number of pupils in school from two million in 2002 to over 5.4 million. In Somalia, DFID is supporting to date some 18,500 boys and girls in school through partnerships with UNICEF and non governmental organisations (NGOs).
	Globally, DFID provides UNICEF with £4 million per year to strengthen UNICEF's humanitarian response, including in the education sector. DFID is also currently working with UNICEF and other development partners to finalise the setting up of a fund, as part of the Fast Track Initiative (FTI) partnership, to support education in countries emerging from conflict and fragility. We will contribute £20 million to this fund.

Mauritania: Overseas Aid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development assistance his Department has provided to the government of Mauritania in each of the last three years.

Gareth Thomas: Details on the UKs bilateral aid expenditure and imputed share of multilateral official development assistance (ODA) are contained in the DFID publication Statistics on International Development. This publication is available from the Library and online at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	Relevant figures are produced in the following table:
	
		
			  DFID bilateral expenditure and imputed multilateral expenditure  in Mauritania 2005-06 to 2007-08 
			  £ 000 
			   DFID bilateral expenditure  DFID imputed multilateral share 
			 2005-06 58 3,673 
			 2006-07 1,565 10,797 
			 2007-08 93 3,921

Overseas Aid

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department takes to ensure that UK aid money is used for the needs of the people for whom it is intended.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) uses established payment and accounting processes to ensure that UK aid money is paid to the intended recipients. Through its core project management systems, DFID then monitors, reviews and evaluates the way in which the funding is used to meet the needs of the poor.
	DFID undertakes fiduciary risk assessments to inform its work in all countries to which it provides financial aid. Individual funding proposals then include an indication of how the lessons from these assessments will be applied and how risks will be managed. Individual projects also include a mechanism to provide assurance that funds have been used for the intended purpose: often this will be through independent external audits and reviews commissioned by DFID or by its partners.
	Underpinning these processes, DFID's Internal Audit Department reviews the risk management systems and related controls to provide assurance that these are adequate and are operating effectively in practice.

Timor-Leste: Politics and Government

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps his Department has taken to seek to ensure the stability of the political situation in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	Through the UK's membership of the UN Core Group in East Timor, our contributions to the substantial UN and EU assistance programmes and our own more modest bilateral programme of contact and support, we are seeking to reduce Timorese dependence on multilateral interventions and to encourage the development of stronger civil institutions.
	Our ambassador to Jakarta and his staff maintain a programme of visits the most recent of which was in March 2009.

Zimbabwe: Cholera

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his most recent estimate is of the number of people in Zimbabwe who are now in South Africa who have contracted cholera; and what assessment he has made of their access to medical treatment.

Gareth Thomas: According to United Nations figures, as of 15 June, there has been a cumulative total of 98,531 cases of cholera with 4,282 deaths. The situation is now under control and the daily rate of infection has fallen to only a handful of cases. International support, including a £10 million package from the Department for International Development (DFID), has helped to keep essential health systems operating.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his estimate is of the number of refugees from Zimbabwe since the formation of the unity government; what assessment he has made of their access to humanitarian aid; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Zimbabwe's social and economic decline has forced many Zimbabweans to leave the country during the last few years. The vast majority of those leaving do so by irregular means and do not request refugee status. It is therefore difficult to assess their numbers generally or within the specific period since the elections but numbers would probably exceed one million.
	Zimbabweans living in South Africa, and those deported back to Zimbabwe, require access to a range of medical, food, shelter and child support services. This is being provided by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Medicins sans Frontières (MSF) and Save the Children. DFID has provided financial support to Save the Children and is the second largest contributor to the IOM.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Digital Broadcasting

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the costs of  (a) printing and  (b) distributing paper copies of the Digital Britain White Paper were.

Ben Bradshaw: The Digital Britain Report was produced jointly between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The cost of printing paper copies of the Digital Britain Report was £26,171.22 and the cost of distributing paper copies was £1,888.60 as of 19 June 2009.

Digital Broadcasting

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many copies of the Digital Britain White Paper have been printed; how many paper copies were supplied free of charge to  (a) Parliament and  (b) other bodies; how many paper copies The Stationery Office has in stock; and whether any further print runs are anticipated.

Ben Bradshaw: The Digital Britain Report was produced jointly between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. 3,500 paper copies of the Digital Britain Report were printed. Of these, 396 paper copies were supplied free of charge to Parliament and 1,578 paper copies have been supplied free of charge to other bodies. The Stationary Office has 121 paper copies in stock and there are no further print runs anticipated.

National Lottery: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Lottery funding has been received by each project in receipt of such funding in Chorley in each of the last five years.

Si�n Simon: holding answer 22 June 2009
	Lottery awards made to organisations in the Chorley local authority area between 2004-05 and 2008-09 are set out in the following tables:
	
		
			  Table 1: 2004-05 
			  Grant date  Recipient  Grant amount (£) 
			 12 April 2004 The Lancashire African Association 4,980 
			 12 April 2004 South Ribble and Chorley New Media Association 5,000 
			 12 April 2004 Sea Cadet Corps: Chorley Unit 526 1,050 
			 12 April 2004 Croston Junior Football Club 4,361 
			 20 April 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 875 
			 5 May 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 525 
			 11 May 2004 Brothers of Charity Friends of Thursday Club 3,350 
			 11 May 2004 LGBT Community Media 5,000 
			 11 May 2004 Chorley Community Film Makers Association 5,000 
			 11 May 2004 Hurst Green Bungalows Over 60s Committee 1,325 
			 25 May 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 300 
			 8 June 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 780 
			 8 June 2004 Coppull Arts and Activities Group 5,000 
			 8 June 2004 St. Peters Church Lads and Church Girls Brigade 2,169 
			 8 June 2004 Chorley and District Mencap Society 4,781 
			 10 June 2004 Heritage Trust for the North West 1,695,000 
			 14 June 2004 Mrs. Prabha Appaji 5,000 
			 22 June 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 780 
			 6 July 2004 Beechbuds Pre-School 4,040 
			 6 July 2004 The Chorley and District Historical and Archaeological Society 5,000 
			 6 July 2004 Chorley Tennis Club 4,740 
			 7 July 2004 Creative Minds 7,900 
			 13 July 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 875 
			 21 July 2004 Visual Concepts UK Ltd. 1,250 
			 27 July 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 2,100 
			 3 August 2004 Clayton Brook Community Group 4,960 
			 3 August 2004 Chorley Community Cinema 5,000 
			 5 August 2004 Age Concern Lancashire 106,532 
			 10 August 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 300 
			 8 September 2004 Home-Start Chorley and South Ribble 5,000 
			 8 September 2004 Balshaw Lane Community Primary School 4,284 
			 8 September 2004 The Travelling Mulberries 5,000 
			 8 September 2004 Music and Arts for Chorley Youth (M.A.C.Y.) 4,412 
			 8 September 2004 Eccleston Brass Band 5,000 
			 23 September 2004 Brothers of Charity Friday Club 2,439 
			 1 October 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 525 
			 7 October 2004 Croston Parish Plan Steering Group 10,286 
			 14 October 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 525 
			 14 October 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 2,100 
			 22 October 2004 Rivington and Blackrod High School 4,627 
			 4 November 2004 WWIIMemories 24,930 
			 4 November 2004 Age Concern Lancashire 10,340 
			 10 November 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 1,050 
			 10 November 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 7,000 
			 10 November 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 425 
			 25 November 2004 Chorley St. Laurence Historical Society 5,000 
			 8 December 2004 Age Concern Chorley 9,999 
			 8 December 2004 Named Individual 10,000 
			 10 December 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 300 
			 10 December 2004 Home-Start Chorley and South Ribble 88,227 
			 14 December 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 875 
			 14 December 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 3,475 
			 21 December 2004 Chorley Photographic Society 4,908 
			 21 December 2004 Chorley Capers 5,000 
			 21 December 2004 1st Clayton Brook Beaver Scouts 3,600 
			 21 December 2004 Weldbank Junior Bowling Club 4,951 
			 21 December 2004 Heroes Return Award to an individual 525 
			 25 January 2005 Heroes Return Award to an individual 875 
			 9 February 2005 Heroes Return Award to an individual 525 
			 9 February 2005 Heroes Return Award to an individual 2,100 
			 23 February 2005 Whittle-le-Woods Community Hall Trust 5,000 
			 23 February 2005 Chorley Youth Music 5,000 
			 23 February 2005 New Vision Audio Workshops 5,000 
			 23 February 2005 Friends of the River Yarrow 5,000 
			 23 February 2005 Mawdesley Village Hall 5,000 
			 23 February 2005 Euxton Primrose Hill Out of School Club 4,529 
			 23 February 2005 St. Michaels and All Angels (Croston) Parish Church 4,798 
			 23 February 2005 Chorley Borough Cricket Development Group 4,890 
			 23 February 2005 Chorley Trials Club 3,853 
			 23 February 2005 Runshaw College 5,000 
			 10 March 2005 Oceanstorm Films (UK) Ltd. 750 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: 2005-06 
			  Grant date  Recipient  Grant amount (£) 
			 26 April 2005 Rivington Terraced Gardens Project 8,500 
			 3 May 2005 Chorleys Lifestyle Centre for the Over 50s 1,950 
			 10 May 2005 Heroes Return Award to an individual 525 
			 10 May 2005 Astley Village Parish Council 5,000 
			 10 May 2005 Heroes Return Award to an individual 875 
			 10 May 2005 City of Preston (Junior) Hockey Club 4,300 
			 10 May 2005 ME/CFS Self Help Support Group (Preston) 4,960 
			 10 May 2005 Chorley Hospital Radio 5,000 
			 10 May 2005 Brindle Parish Institute 2,350 
			 10 May 2005 Clayton Brook Community House 4,990 
			 8 June 2005 North Russia Club 5,600 
			 10 June 2005 Named Individual 500 
			 10 June 2005 Oceanstorm Films (UK) Ltd. 4,000 
			 15 June 2005 Heroes Return Award to an individual 1,300 
			 15 June 2005 Heroes Return Award to an individual 2,100 
			 27 June 2005 Chorley, South Ribble and Districts Citizens Advice Bureaux 4,500 
			 28 June 2005 Totsercise 4,695 
			 28 June 2005 Preston Poets Society 2,941 
			 29 June 2005 Chorley Borough Council 9,700 
			 29 June 2005 Heroes Return Award to an individual 2,100 
			 1 July 2005 The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Ltd. 139,256 
			 4 July 2005 The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside 47,400 
			 4 August 2005 Creative Minds 7,696 
			 9 August 2005 Holy Cross RC High School 140,000 
			 15 August 2005 Bongomagic 5,000 
			 15 August 2005 St. Pauls Amateur Players 5,000 
			 15 August 2005 South West Chorley Community Safety Group 4,950 
			 5 September 2005 Physico Theatre Ltd. 24,900 
			 12 September 2005 The Bolton Astronomical Society 4,550 
			 4 October 2005 Chorleys Lifestyle Centre for the Over 50s 55,591 
			 4 October 2005 Chorley and South Ribble Council For Voluntary Service 44,317 
			 4 October 2005 ME/CFS Self Help Support Group (Preston) 22,139 
			 24 October 2005 Eccleston Heritage Clog 3,060 
			 24 October 2005 Chorley Film Society 4,489 
			 24 October 2005 The Chorley DJ Collective 5,000 
			 24 October 2005 The Chorley Well Women Centre 3,850 
			 24 October 2005 Chorley Youth Dance 5,000 
			 24 October 2005 St. Pauls (Adlington) Nursery 5,000 
			 25 November 2005 Age Concern Lancashire 295,360 
			 29 November 2005 Brindle St. James Parents, Teachers and Friends Association 2,000 
			 29 November 2005 Preston Pride Basketball Club 3,952 
			 29 November 2005 Croston St. Michaels Scout Group 3,800 
			 24 January 2006 White Coppice Cricket Club 5,000 
			 24 January 2006 Soundworks 2,195 
			 24 January 2006 Ulnes Walton Charitable Fund 4,995 
			 8 February 2006 Horwich R.M.I. Harriers and Athletic Club 5,000 
			 8 February 2006 The Arts Partnership 88,026 
			 7 March 2006 Leyland Lawn Tennis Club 4,586 
			 7 March 2006 Bretherton Out of School Club 5,000 
			 7 March 2006 Rural Community Partnership Trust 4,910 
			 7 March 2006 Brindle Historical Society 1,600 
			 20 March 2006 Leyland Fox Lane Bowling Club 5,000 
			 20 March 2006 Anderton Parish Council 5,000 
			 20 March 2006 Jubilee Concertinas 3,450 
			 20 March 2006 Brindle Parish Institute (Brindle Community Hall) 4,991 
			 20 March 2006 Chorley Cricket Club 4,985 
			 20 March 2006 Moss Side Village Playgroup 2,894 
			 20 March 2006 Charnock Richard Cricket Club 2,633 
			 20 March 2006 Abbey Village Primary School 4,250 
			 20 March 2006 Ormskirk Tennis Club 2,455 
			 20 March 2006 Adlington and District Carnival Committee Limited 5,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: 2006-07 
			  Grant date  Recipient  Grant amount (£) 
			 11 April 2006 Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside 50,000 
			 9 May 2006 Function Room 4,925 
			 9 May 2006 Art in Adlington 4,920 
			 9 May 2006 Astley Village Juniors Football Club 4,853 
			 31 May 2006 Chorley Borough Bowls Forum 3,535 
			 31 May 2006 Chorley District Scout Council 5,000 
			 31 May 2006 Croston Community Centre 4,976 
			 31 May 2006 South Lancashire Arts Partnership 5,000 
			 31 May 2006 Chorley Womens Refuge Group 5,000 
			 26 June 2006 Euxton Methodist Scout Group 4,983 
			 26 June 2006 Age Concern Chorley 4,137 
			 26 June 2006 Withnell Fold Primary School 4,996 
			 26 June 2006 Chorley Marlins Amateur Swimming Club 5,000 
			 26 June 2006 Mawdesley Equine and People Trust 5,000 
			 26 June 2006 Sea Cadet Corps: Chorley Unit 526 4,750 
			 26 June 2006 Rivington and Blackrod High School 5,000 
			 26 June 2006 Mayfield School 5,000 
			 26 June 2006 St. Michaels and All Angels (Croston) Parish Church 5,000 
			 26 June 2006 Heapey Parish Council 5,000 
			 26 June 2006 Age Concern Lancashire 169,826 
			 26 June 2006 Home-Start Chorley and South Ribble 3,800 
			 11 July 2006 Holy Cross Catholic High School 151,911 
			 26 July 2006 Briary Court and Carr Barn Brow Residents Association 4,869 
			 26 July 2006 Starfish 4,889 
			 31 August 2006 1st Euxton Rof Scout Group 10,000 
			 31 August 2006 Charnock Richard Scarecrow Festival Committee 2,884 
			 31 August 2006 Clayton Thursday Club 6,800 
			 25 September 2006 Chorley and South Ribble M.E. Support Group 5,000 
			 26 September 2006 South Lancashire Arts Partnership 7,500 
			 28 September 2006 Bears Paw Patchers 1,470 
			 3 November 2006 Brothers of Charity Open House 1,850 
			 3 November 2006 Mawdesley Village Planning Committee 5,445 
			 3 November 2006 Black Horse Bowling Club 10,000 
			 3 November 2006 Chorley and District Neighbourhood Watch Association 5,585 
			 3 November 2006 Abbey Village and Brinscall Playgroup 10,000 
			 3 November 2006 Creative Minds 2,800 
			 3 November 2006 Chorley and South Ribble CrossroadsCaring for Carers 4,055 
			 3 November 2006 Chorley Cougars Basketball Club 3,314 
			 23 November 2006 Visual Concepts UK/Martin Talbot 4,250 
			 27 November 2006 Lancashire Care NHS Trust Adult Mental Health In Patient Unit 10,000 
			 27 November 2006 92 (Chorley) Squadron Air Training Corps 3,970 
			 27 November 2006 Blackburn with Darwen Action Learning Network 10,000 
			 27 November 2006 Chorley and District Choral Society 4,240 
			 29 November 2006 South Lancashire Learning Disability Training Consortium 22,692 
			 3 January 2007 Genesis Workshops 10,000 
			 3 January 2007 Withnell Vs Brinscall 9,850 
			 3 January 2007 Vernon Carus Cricket Club 8,000 
			 29 January 2007 Rivington and Blackrod High School 20,500 
			 27 February 2007 Friends of Cuerden Valley Park 3,889 
			 27 February 2007 Chorley Community Music Consortium 4,925 
			 27 February 2007 Positive Action in Chorley East 9,940 
			 8 March 2007 The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside 510,000 
			 27 March 2007 Adlington Canoe Club 2,839 
			 27 March 2007 The Guide Association Lancashire North West 5,000 
			 27 March 2007 St. Josephs Catholic Primary School 3,052 
			 27 March 2007 St. Michaels C E High School 1,000 
			 27 March 2007 Valley Brass (Haydock) 4,428 
			 27 March 2007 Pendle Community High School 4,350 
			 30 March 2007 Mawdesley Equine and People Trust 5,000 
			 30 March 2007 Hundred Acre Wood Mother and Toddlers 4,008 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: 2007-08 
			  Grant date  Recipient  Grant amount (£) 
			 20 April 2007 Eccleston Heritage Clog 40,700 
			 30 April 2007 Community Leisure Services Ltd. 9,500 
			 30 April 2007 Rural Community Partnership Trust 5,000 
			 30 April 2007 Chorley Cricket Club 3,170 
			 24 May 2007 Saheliyaan Asian Womens Forum 5,000 
			 24 May 2007 Adlington Venture Unit 5,000 
			 24 May 2007 Brindle Historical Society 7,821 
			 24 May 2007 St. Marys Chorley Scout Group 7,630 
			 24 May 2007 Croston Pre-School 8,231 
			 24 May 2007 Chorley District Scouts 5,000 
			 18 June 2007 Croston St. Michaels Scout Group 1,998 
			 3 July 2007 Chorley Borough Council 208,006 
			 24 July 2007 Eccleston Scout and Guides Group 10,000 
			 24 July 2007 Brothers of Charity Tuesday Club 2,100 
			 27 July 2007 Home-Start Chorley and South Ribble 159,972 
			 14 August 2007 David Alker and Peter Liddell Alker Liddell 1,900 
			 20 August 2007 Balshaw Lane Community Primary School 10,000 
			 20 August 2007 City of Preston High School 6,907 
			 20 August 2007 Home-Start Chorley and South Ribble 6,200 
			 17 September 2007 Named Individual 500 
			 19 September 2007 Rivington and Blackrod High School 433,277 
			 24 September 2007 Chorley and South Ribble CrossroadsCaring for Carers 5,945 
			 24 September 2007 Girlguiding UK Chor Valley District 2,945 
			 17 October 2007 Lancashire College 87,263 
			 23 October 2007 Starfish 4,604 
			 18 December 2007 St Pauls Amateur Players 5,000 
			 18 December 2007 The Friends of Chorley Quad 6,915 
			 21 January 2008 Tatton Community Group 9,700 
			 21 January 2008 Brindle Parish Institute 3,149 
			 21 January 2008 Chorley Challengers Sports Club 9,996 
			 21 January 2008 Cuerden Valley Park Trust 10,000 
			 11 February 2008 Bretherton and Croston Angling Club 6,166 
			 19 February 2008 Chorley Pals Memorial 10,000 
			 19 February 2008 Inward House Community Projects 5,000 
			 19 February 2008 Gillibrand Primary School 10,000 
			 19 February 2008 Rivington and Blackrod High School 3,500 
			 26 February 2008 Paul Gallagher 4,770 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 5: 2008-09 
			  Grant date  Recipient  Grant amount (£) 
			 7 April 2008 Music and Arts for Chorley Youth (M.A.C.Y.) 3,125 
			 7 April 2008 Rural Community Partnership Trust 4,750 
			 7 April 2008 Chorley Division Rangers 9,780 
			 7 April 2008 Preston Pride Basketball Club 6,850 
			 7 April 2008 Central Lancashire ME/CFS Support Group 6,809 
			 8 April 2008 Tom Bell T/A Reckless Invention 10,435 
			 8 May 2008 The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Ltd. 224,639 
			 8 May 2008 South Ribble BC (South Ribble CSN) 137,610 
			 12 May 2008 Function Room 4,966 
			 12 May 2008 The Hoghton Players Drama Group 5,073 
			 13 May 2008 Lorraine Berry 1,159 
			 30 May 2008 South Ribble BC (South Ribble CSN) 30,000 
			 9 June 2008 Euxton Youth Cricket Academy 7,340 
			 10 June 2008 Rivington and Blackrod High School 4,000 
			 14 July 2008 Chorley Borough Cricket Development Group 9,930 
			 14 July 2008 Coppull Parish Council 9,415 
			 11 August 2008 Mawdesley Millennium Green Trust 6,792 
			 11 August 2008 Croston and District Boules League 2,880 
			 11 August 2008 Adlington and District in Bloom Action Group 4,339 
			 11 August 2008 Hoghton Womens Institute 1,033 
			 15 September 2008 North West Dance Alliance 7,200 
			 15 September 2008 Canon Slade C of E School 8,473 
			 2 October 2008 Maelstrom Dance 7,840 
			 13 October 2008 Chorley Photographic Society 7,896 
			 13 October 2008 Croston Subscription Bowling Club 9,920 
			 13 October 2008 Brinscall and District Drop In 975 
			 13 October 2008 Croston Parish Council 3,600 
			 21 October 2008 The Arts Partnership 20,900 
			 8 December 2008 Southlands High School 5,797 
			 8 December 2008 Grappenhall Hall School 6,775 
			 8 December 2008 Rainbow House For Conductive Education 55,250 
			 19 January 2009 Eccleston Parish Council 7,250 
			 19 January 2009 Rainbow House For Conductive Education 10,000 
			 10 February 2009 Age Concern Lancashire 1,200 
			 10 February 2009 Help The Homeless (Chorley) Ltd. 5,000 
			 10 February 2009 Eaves Green Residents Group 10,000 
			 11 March 2009 Sea Cadet Corps: Chorley Unit 526 6,310 
		
	
	These statistics come from the Departments lottery grants database. The database is searchable at:
	www.lottery.culture.gov.uk
	and uses information on lottery grants supplied by the lottery distributors.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Cameroon: Prisoners

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of Cameroon on the recent sentencing of the National Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Southern Cameroons National Council to imprisonment.

Ivan Lewis: We have no plans to make representations to the Government of Cameroon on this specific issue. However the UK frequently lobbies the Government of Cameroon on freedom of expression and the need to allow peaceful protest.

Central America: Embassies

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many consular staff his Department employs in each of its embassies in Central America.

Chris Bryant: The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff carrying out consular activities in Central America is 11.5. About 70 per cent. of these staff are locally hired, the remainder being diplomatic service officers. The following table provides the details by post within Central America.
	
		
			  Post name  Consular FTE 
			 Belmopan 0.8 
			 San Jose 2.1 
			 Guatemala City 2.1 
			 Cancun 1.0 
			 Mexico City 4.6 
			 Panama City 0.9

Demos

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) private meetings and  (b) public engagements Ministers in his Department have attended at which representatives from the think-tank Demos were present in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Departmental Correspondence

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of letters to his Department from hon. Members' Parliamentary offices were answered within 30 days of the date of receipt in each quarter from January 2008 to March 2009.

Chris Bryant: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members correspondence. The report for 2008 was published on 2 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 80-86WS.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 369-72W, on departmental internet, how many  (a) unique visitors and  (b) page impressions were received by each website operated by his Department in each of the last 12 months.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office operates over 200 websites. The lists of the number of page views and unique visitors for each website for each of the last 12 months are too unwieldy for  Hansard. Instead, a copy of this information will be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Lost Property

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many laptop computers belonging to  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have been lost or stolen in the last five years.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) maintains a record of all encrypted laptops issued to its staff for the storage and transmission of classified data. Since 2004, two of these laptops have been reported lost or stolen. The FCO's process in these circumstances was followed. Responsibility for the purchase and safe keeping of unclassified laptops is devolved to directorates and posts overseas. As such, it is not possible to provide information on the number of lost or stolen unclassified laptops without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Travel

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on travel in each year since 1997.  [Official Report, 8 April 2010, Vol. 508, c. 13MC.]

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has spent the following amounts on overseas and UK travel in each of the last five financial years:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Financial year  Overseas  UK 
			 2004-05 8,114,225.77 866,896.25 
			 2005-06 13,386,273.99 1,153,482.09 
			 2006-07 12,546,595.21 1,146,012.99 
			 2007-08 14,225,775.77 1,159,085.54 
			 2008-09 17,874,037.95 1,779,031.12 
		
	
	The year on year increase in travel costs are largely due to increases in fuel costs over the period affecting ticket prices.
	Obtaining information on costs of travel before this period would incur disproportionate cost.

Developing Countries: Trade

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on arranging a World Trade Organisation Ministerial meeting in the Doha Development Agenda; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lucas: I have been asked to reply.
	At the London summit G20 leaders renewed their commitment to concluding the DDA, on the basis of the progress made so far. There has been greater engagement from the United States and India, who have an important part to play in the negotiations, following their elections. Technical discussions are continuing among WTO members in Geneva.
	The Doha round remains the UK government's top trade priority and we will continue to work closely with our EU and international partners to secure a deal as early as possible.

Eastern Europe: Diplomatic Service

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many consular staff his Department employs in each of its embassies in Eastern Europe.

Chris Bryant: The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff carrying out consular activities in our consular region of Central, Eastern Europe and the Balkans is 31.3. About 75 per cent. of these staff are locally hired, the remainder being diplomatic service officers. The list provides the details by post within Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
	
		
			  Post name  Consular FTE 
			 Tirana 0.7 
			 Baku 1.1 
			 Minsk 0.2 
			 Banja Luka 0.1 
			 Sarajevo 0.4 
			 Sofia 3.6 
			 Zagreb 2.6 
			 Prague 2.5 
			 Tbilisi 0.9 
			 Budapest 2.2 
			 Pristina 0.5 
			 Skopje 0.7 
			 Chisinau 0.4 
			 Podgorica 1.2 
			 Warsaw 3.0 
			 Bucharest 2.4 
			 Ekaterinburg 0.2 
			 Moscow 3.3 
			 St. Petersburg 1.1 
			 Belgrade 1.4 
			 Bratislava 1.1 
			 Kyiv 1.6

Egypt: Diplomatic Service

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many consulate staff his Department employs in Egypt.

Ivan Lewis: The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff carrying out consular activities in Egypt is 10.9. The following list provides the details by post within Egypt:
	
		
			  Post  n ame  Consular FTE 
			 Alexandria 0.9 
			 Cairo 10.0

Iran: Politics and Government

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government has made representations to the Iranian government on the right of peaceful assembly and protest since the recent elections held there.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 22 June 2009
	On 19 June 2009, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said:
	I believe that it is right for us to speak out for rights, to speak out against repression, to speak out in condemnation of violence, to speak out for a free media that is prevented from doing its job, and we will continue to do it.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) political director summoned the Iranian deputy ambassador on 19 June 2009. The FCO's Permanent Secretary summoned the Iranian ambassador on Monday 22 June 2009. In both meetings, the UK's commitment to free and fair elections, and the right to demonstration without fear of violent reprisals, was made clear.

Iraq: Politics and Government

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on  (a) the stability of the Iraqi government and  (b) respect for human rights in Iraq of the assassination of Harith al-Obaidi; what discussions he has had with the Government of Iraq on the assassination of Harith al-Obaidi; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We condemn the murder of the Iraqi MP Harith al-Obaidi. His death is a genuine loss to the Iraqi Council of Representatives, and to its Human Rights Committee of which he was an active deputy chair. He worked closely with officials at our embassy in Baghdad.
	The Iraqi Government and Council of Representatives have continually stood strong in the face of terrorism: the cross-party condemnation of his murder is a strong sign that they will do so again, and will not be diverted from the important legislative challenges that are vital for the country's future.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed this matter with the Government of Iraq. However, he has written a personal letter to the Speaker of the Council of Representatives to offer the UK's support and condolences, and officials at our embassy in Baghdad have echoed that message in their meetings with a range of Iraqi parliamentarians.

Israel: Diplomatic Service

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many consulate staff his Department employs in Israel.

Ivan Lewis: The consular team at our embassy in Tel Aviv consists of seven staff members; this includes six members who are locally engaged.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has discussed Israel's conditions for the establishment of a Palestinian state with the Palestinians.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to President Abbas on 18 June 2009. These discussions focused on the importance of making further progress on the peace process, including President Abbas' reaction to Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Ivan Lewis: Foreign Minister Lieberman visited the UK on 13 May 2009 and attended the EU-Israel Association Council on 15 June 2009. These discussions focused on the importance of making further progress on the peace process to establish a Palestinian state.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also spoke to his Israeli counterpart on 15 June 2009 to make clear that his endorsement of the principle of a two state solution and his willingness to engage in negotiations without preconditions was a step in the right direction. But also that more was needed on the issue of settlements: a complete freeze in settlement construction, in line with Israel's Roadmap commitments.

North Korea: Sanctions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the UN Security Council to adopt new sanctions on North Korea following its recent nuclear test; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1874 on North Korea was agreed unanimously on 12 June 2009. The resolution is an important sign of the unity, clarity and intent of the international community.
	The resolution is clear in condemning North Korea's nuclear test on 25 May 2009 and demanding that it does not conduct any further nuclear tests or launches using ballistic missile technology. The resolution clamps down on North Korea's proliferation activities. It provides an enhanced inspections regime and bans the export of all arms from North Korea. It includes strong financial measures, including a ban on the provision of international finance to North Korea, except for humanitarian and development work. And it promotes the effective implementation of sanctions by introducing a new monitoring mechanism. The UN Sanctions Committee will also look to identify entities, goods, and individuals for further targeted sanctions within 30 days of the adoption of this new resolution.
	The UK wants to see the new measures implemented swiftly and we will be working closely with partners in the UN and EU to do so.
	We urge North Korea to return to the negotiating table. This is the only route to peace and prosperity.

Sri Lanka: Human Rights

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have informed him of their support for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry into alleged human rights abuses in the Tamil areas of Sri Lanka.

Ivan Lewis: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear, we fully endorse the EUs calls for an independent inquiry into allegations of violations of international law in the recent conflict in Sri Lanka. It could play an important role in the post-conflict reconciliation process. As such, we welcome the joint statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and President Rajapakse of Sri Lanka underlining the importance of an accountability process for addressing possible violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. We will continue to press for progress on this with international partners, above all the EU and UN.

Sri Lanka: Internally Displaced Persons

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to  (a) the government of Sri Lanka and  (b) others on (i) the physical protection and (ii) provision of food, water, clothing and shelter for those held in camps for internally displaced people in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the high commissioner in Colombo and I have all urged the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that internally displaced persons (IDPs) be treated in accordance with accepted international standards and guidelines. This includes ensuring the physical protection of IDPs, as well as the adequate provision of food, water and sanitation and shelter. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary raised the issue of humanitarian access with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Bogollogama on 5 June. The Prime Minister also raised the humanitarian situation in a telephone call with President Rajapakse on 18 May.
	UK representatives regularly discuss the situation in Sri Lanka with the Indian Government, UN and humanitarian agencies. The Foreign Secretary also discussed the civilian crisis in Sri Lanka at the UN on his visit on 11 May.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking in collaboration with  (a) commonwealth governments and  (b) the UN to facilitate a political settlement between the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil community; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We remain of the view that lasting peace in Sri Lanka can only be achieved through an inclusive political solution based on equality, consent and rule of law, which satisfies the legitimate aspirations of all Sri Lankan communities. We will continue to press for progress on this, both bilaterally, and with international partners and at the UN.
	We fully endorse the UN Secretary-Generals engagement in relation to Sri Lanka and we welcome his joint statement with President Rajapakse of 23 May 2009, in which they agreed the need to address the aspirations and grievances of all communities and working towards a lasting political solution.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made a statement on Sri Lanka on 19 May 2009,  Official Report, column 73WS.

Syrian Arab Republic: Asylum

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding the Government has contributed to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to meet the requirements of Iraqi nationals in Syria for 2009.

Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK Government have contributed £2 million in 2008-09 to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to meet the requirements of Iraqi refugees living outside Iraq in the Middle East region. This funding is not earmarked for specific countries, although official estimates show that the large majority of Iraqi refugees live in Syria.

Zimbabwe

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of violent farm seizures in Zimbabwe which have occurred since the formation of the unity government; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Since the Global Political Agreement was signed on 15 September 2008 there have been a number of violent incidents on farms. Farming organisations estimate that there have been 36 cases of assault against farmers and farm workers; five shootings; 62 cases of theft or destruction of crops, property or livestock; seven cases of farmers being barricaded in their property and 32 threats of evictions against farmers. 165 farmers have appeared in court and 35 farmers and workers have been evicted.
	We condemn these attacks and urge the Inclusive Government to act on the commitments to reform that it has made, including respect for the rule of law and an end to violence. The judicial authorities in Zimbabwe must take action to end these seizures, which contravene the Southern African Development Community agreement of 15 September 2008.

Zimbabwe

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the treatment of supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe since the formation of the unity government; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We remain in regular contact with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and human rights groups in Zimbabwe. At present we are monitoring the trials of the MDC supporters who were abducted in late 2008. We are also investigating reports that three other MDC supporters were recently abducted in order to persuade them to testify on behalf of the prosecution.
	At the formation of the Inclusive Government in February 2009, approximately seventy political prisoners were in custody. Although all have now been released on bail, they are under extremely strict bail conditions, living in fear of re-arrest and suffering continued harassment by state authorities. We remain deeply concerned about the fate of seven missing MDC activists, abducted in late 2008. The state have always denied knowledge of their whereabouts.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has stated that human rights and the rule of law are among the key areas where progress is needed before there can be full international re-engagement with Zimbabwe. Together with our international partners, we continue to closely monitor the situation on the ground and urge the Inclusive Government to respect the commitments they made in their Global Political Agreement.

CABINET OFFICE

10 Downing Street: Shops

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 942W, on 10 Downing Street, 
	(1)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the list of retail prices of each item of merchandise available in the Downing Street gift shop;
	(2)  what the retail price of each individual item in the Downing Street gift shop is.

Angela Smith: I have nothing further to add to the answer given to the right hon. Member on 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 942W.

Abortion: Young People

David Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the abortion rate among those under the age of  (a) 18 and  (b) 16 years was in each region in 2008.

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Abortion rates( 1)  for women age under 16 and under 18 by region of residence, 2008 
			  Rate per 1,000 women 
			  Strategic health authority  Age under 16( 2)  Age under 18( 3) 
			 England 4 19 
			
			 East Midlands 4 17 
			 East of England 3 14 
			 London 5 25 
			 North East 5 20 
			 North West 5 21 
			 South Central 3 15 
			 South East Coast 4 17 
			 South West 4 17 
			 West Midlands 5 21 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 5 20 
			 (1) Rates are based on 2007 mid year population estimates. (2) Rates for under 16 are based on populations 13-15. (3) Rates for under 18 are based on populations 15-17.

Adoption: Homosexuality

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Government is taking to tackle discrimination against same-sex couples during adoption processes.

Michael Jabez Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are committed to adoption for looked after children where this is in their best interests. We are also committed to ending discrimination against prospective adopters who are same sex couples.
	The Adoption and Children Act (2002) focused strongly on the needs of children awaiting adoption, and widened the pool of prospective adopters to include same sex and unmarried heterosexual couples. The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 introduced the right for same sex couples to be treated the same as other prospective adopters.
	The new Equality Bill maintains this right. It also introduces a new public sector Equality Duty which means that local authorities will have to consider the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual people when they are planning their policies and services, including adoption services.
	All prospective adopters undergo the same thorough and rigorous assessment process irrespective of their sexual orientation, or marital or civil partnership status.

Childbirth

Harry Cohen: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on what dates the five most recent annual reports on the numbers of  (a) live births and  (b) stillbirths in England were published.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated June 2009:
	As the National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question about the dates on which the five most recent annual reports on the numbers of  (a) live births and  (b) stillbirths in England were published. (281119)
	The Office for National Statistics is responsible for publishing statistics on the numbers of births registered in England and Wales. The reference volume, Birth Statistics, Series FM1 is published annually and includes the number of live births and stillbirths in England. The five most recent publication dates for Birth Statistics, Series FM1 are shown in the table below.
	
		
			  Year of birth  Date of publication of Annual Reference Volume: Birth Statistics, Series FM1 
			 2003 16 December 2004 
			 2004 15 December 2005 
			 2005 12 December 2006 
			 2006 13 December 2007 
			 2007 15 December 2008 
		
	
	Figures for live births and stillbirths in England are usually published several months before the annual reference volume. The latest year for which figures are available is 2008 for live births (provisional data were released on 21 May 2009) and 2007 for stillbirths.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

James Paice: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate she has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions arising from air travel by staff in her Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff.

Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the Cabinet Office autumn performance report 2008 which contains information on the carbon emissions arising as a result of the Departments business air travel. The information is not available per full-time member of staff.
	A copy of the performance report is available at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/reports/psa/autumn_delivery.aspx
	and also in the Library of the House.

Departmental Work Experience

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many  (a) paid and  (b) unpaid graduate internships her Department has awarded in each of the last six months.

Angela Smith: The Cabinet Office arranges placements to help young people better understand the workplace, promote itself as an employer of choice, enhance the image of the civil service and increase diversity.
	As internships and work placements are arranged by individual management units records of how many  (a) paid and  (b) unpaid internships are offered to graduates in each of the last six months could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Economic and Monetary Union

John Hayes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what activities have been undertaken by her Departments Euro Minister in that capacity.

Angela Smith: As the Cabinet Office Minister with responsibility for euro preparedness I would represent the Department at the Treasury-led Euro Ministers Steering Group. The group has not met since June 2007.

Electorate

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many registered voters there were in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated June 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to respond to your question asking how many registered voters there were in each of the last 10 years. (281367)
	The table below shows the number of people registered to vote in the UK in local government elections and parliamentary elections for the years 1999 to 2008.
	The number of people registered to vote in local government elections is not the same as that for parliamentary elections due to differences in the eligibility to vote.
	
		
			  Number of local government and parliamentary electors registered to vote in the UK, 1999 to 2008 
			   Local government electors  Parliamentary electors 
			 1999 44,692,299 44,388,885 
			 2000 44,755,889 44,423,440 
			 2001 45,055,786 44,695,764 
			 2002 44,742,770 44,363,353 
			 2003 44,539,665 44,136,652 
			 2004 44,655,226 44,180,464 
			 2005 44,944,109 44,403,415 
			 2006 45,457,163 44,775,185 
			 2007 45,920,503 45,082,854 
			 2008 46,147,877 45,194,449 
			  Note: Individuals eligible to vote in local government elections include peers and European Union (EU) citizens but exclude UK citizens resident abroad. Those eligible to vote in parliamentary elections however include UK citizens resident abroad but exclude peers and EU citizens.  Source: Office for National Statistics.

Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 479-82W, on employment, how many  (a) UK nationals,  (b) UK-born people,  (c) foreign nationals,  (d) non-UK EU nationals and  (e) non-EU nationals of working age were in employment in (i) the public sector and (ii) the private sector in each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available; and what the percentage change between 1997 and the most recent year for which figures are available was in respect of categories (i) and (ii).

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2009, Official Report, columns 479-82W, on employment, how many (a) UK nationals, (b) UK-born people, (c) foreign nationals, (d) non-UK EU nationals and (e) non-EU nationals of working age were in employment in (i) the public sector and (ii) the private sector in each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available; and what the percentage change between 1997 and the last year for which figures are available was in respect of categories (i) and (ii). (281118)
	The information requested is shown in the attached table. The estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey. The distinction between public and private sector is based on respondents' views about the organisation for which they work. The public sector estimates provided do not correspond to official Public Sector Employment estimates. Those are derived directly from employers and are based on National Accounts definitions, but do not include a nationality breakdown.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. This is assessed in a footnote to the table.
	The figures in the table are derived from the LFS microdata which are weighted using the official population estimates published in autumn 2007. They are not entirely consistent with the figures published in the monthly Labour Market Statistics Statistical Bulletin, or the migrant worker figures published every quarter, which are weighted using more up-to-date population estimates.
	
		
			  Employment levels for people of working age( 1)  in employment by public and private sector and by nationality and country of birth, three months ending March 1997 and three months ending March, June, September and December, 2007-09, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Thousand 
			   Public sector( 2, 3)  Private sector( 2, 4) 
			   UK nationals  UK born  Non-UK nationals( 6)  Non-UK EU nationals( 7)  Non-EU nationals( 7)  UK nationals  UK born  Non-UK nationals6  Non-UK EU nationals( 7)  Non-EU nationals( 7) 
			 1997 Q1 5,696 5,473 203 88 115 18,657 17,929 690 310 381 
			
			 2007 Q2 6,286 5,976 375 127 248 19,390 18,434 1,715 841 874 
			 2007 Q3 6,214 5,900 367 136 231 19,688 18,681 1,731 830 900 
			 2007 Q4 6,305 5,979 367 148 218 19,618 18,617 1,795 859 936 
			
			 2008 Q1 6,299 5,970 384 136 249 19,447 18,457 1,853 925 928 
			 2008 Q2 6,349 6,025 375 138 236 19,404 18,388 1,872 917 955 
			 2008 Q3 6,293 5,973 373 134 238 19,513 18,493 1,895 906 988 
			 2008 Q4 6,387 6,052 390 124 266 19,245 18,206 1,938 923 1,015 
			
			 2009 Q1(8) *6,443 *6,109 **381 ***113 **268 *18,891 *17,842 *1,919 *979 *940 
			
			 Percentage change between 1997 Q1 and 2009 Q1 13 12 88 n/a n/a 1 0 178 n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  Thousand 
			   Employment( 4, 5) 
			   UK nationals  UK born  Non-UK nationals( 6)  Non-UK EU nationals( 7)  Non-EU nationals( 7) 
			 1997 Q1 24,551 23,589 906 401 505 
			   
			 2007 Q2 25,784 24,508 2,103 969 1,134 
			 2007 Q3 26,023 24,694 2,113 969 1,144 
			 2007 Q4 26,050 24,718 2,173 1,010 1,163 
			   
			 2008 Q1 25,870 24,547 2,254 1,068 1,186 
			 2008 Q2 25,882 24,532 2,266 1,065 1,201 
			 2008 Q3 25,928 24,580 2,279 1,045 1,234 
			 2008 Q4 25,749 24,372 2,342 1,052 1,290 
			   
			 2009 Q1(8) *25,454 *24,067 *2,313 *1,097 *1,215 
			   
			 Percentage change between 1997 Q1 and 2009 Q1 4 2 155 n/a n/a 
			 (1) Men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59. (2) It should be noted that public and private sector estimates; are based on survey respondents' views about the organisation for which they work; do not correspond to the National Accounts definition used for Public Sector Employment estimates. (3) Includes nationalised industry or state corporation, central Government, civil service, local government or council (incl. police, fire services and local authority controlled schools or colleges), university or other grant funded educational establishment, health authority or NHS trust and armed forces. (4) Includes self-employed and unpaid family workers. (5) Includes those whose type of employer was not known. (6) Excludes those whose nationality was not known. (7) Other EU comprises Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden only in 1997 Q1. Meaningful comparisons between 1997 Q1 and 2009 Q1 are not possible due to the changes in the composition of EU. (8) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates, as described below:  Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV - for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220.  Key Coefficient of Variation (CV) (%) Statistical Robustness * 0 = CV5 Estimates are considered precise ** 5 = CV 10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 = CV 20 Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes  Note: It should be noted that the above estimates exclude people in most types of communal establishment (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels mobile home sites etc.)  Source: Labour Force Survey

Government Departments: Standards

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance her Department provides to other Government departments on best practice for departments and their agencies in making grants.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	Managing Public Money is the authoritative guide to ethics in the use of public funds, setting out the main principles for dealing with resources used by public sector organisations in the UK. Guidance on the provision of grants is contained in Managing Public Money Annex 5.1:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/mpm_annex5.1.pdf

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Fines

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fines have been issued in each police authority area for refusing to obey an instruction to stop drinking in a Designated Public Place order area in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The number of fines issued for refusing to obey an instruction to stop drinking in a designated public place order is in the following table.
	PND data are not included in the table. The number of PNDs issued for failure to comply with a requirement by a constable within a designated public place order are as follows: 485 in 2004, 712 in 2005, 1,061 in 2006 and 1,544 in 2007.
	Data for 2008 will be available in autumn 2009.
	
		
			  Number of fines issued and average fine amount by police force area (PFA) for drinking in a designated public place( 1) , 2002-07 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  PFA  Fines issued  Average fine (£)  Fines issued  Average fine (£)  Fines issued  Average fine (£)  Fines issued  Average fine (£)  Fines issued  Average fine (£)  Fines issued  Average fine (£) 
			 Avon and Somerset 1 60.00 2 30.00 4 42.50 1 10.00 3 41.67 4 96.25 
			 Bedfordshire 2 42.50 12 26.67 2 40.00 9 31.67 5 40.00 4 57.50 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 50.00 1 50.00 
			 Cheshire 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 50.00 
			 Cleveland 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 5 85.00 6 66.67 
			 Cumbria 1 30.00 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 50.00 0 n/a 
			 Derbyshire 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 100.00 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1 30.00 4 51.25 4 32.50 3 23.33 0 n/a 0 n/a 
			 Dorset 1 50.00 0 n/a 1 100.00 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 75.00 0 n/a 0 n/a 
			 Essex 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 50.00 
			 Gloucestershire 0 n/a 1 25.00 2 20.00 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 
			 Greater Manchester 1 50.00 1 20.00 4 45.00 3 123.33 0 n/a 1 50.00 
			 Gwent 0 n/a 0 n/a 4 107.50 0 n/a 6 37.50 3 83.33 
			 Hampshire 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 50.00 0 n/a 1 100.00 1 80.00 
			 Humberside 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 50.00 
			 Kent 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 
			 Lancashire 0 n/a 3 43.33 2 35.00 1 100.00 0 n/a 0 n/a 
			 Leicestershire 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 2 45.00 0 n/a 0 n/a 
			 Merseyside 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 4 50.00 3 58.33 
			 Metropolitan Police 11 48.18 23 (2)40.00 13 40.38 12 72.92 10 45.50 5 49.00 
			 Norfolk 0 n/a 7 25.71 2 22.50 2 50.00 2 30.00 4 58.75 
			 North Wales 1 30.00 0 n/a 2 75.00 2 75.00 1 50.00 3 60.00 
			 Northumbria 1 50.00 2 105.00 3 76.67 8 62.50 3 50.00 9 50.00 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 40.00 2 47.50 
			 South Wales 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 50.00 0 n/a 1 100.00 0 n/a 
			 South Yorkshire 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 75.00 2 37.50 
			 Staffordshire 0 n/a 3 25.33 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 
			 Suffolk 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 2 52.50 
			 Sussex 1 50.00 1 20.00 5 55.00 6 43.33 7 37.14 4 37.50 
			 Thames Valley 0 n/a 9 40.00 18 44.17 5 55.00 5 54.00 3 58.33 
			 West Mercia 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 5 118.00 
			 West Midlands 0 n/a 3 43.33 8 53.13 7 65.00 2 27.50 11 50.91 
			 West Yorkshire 0 n/a 1 20.00 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 
			 Wiltshire 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 50.00 1 75.00 0 n/a 0 n/a 
			 Total 21 45.95 72 37.17 78 49.94 63 58.57 59 48.98 76 60.92 
			 n/a = Not applicable. (1) Under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 which came into force on the 1 September 2001, there were no offenders sentenced in 2001. (2) Excludes one fine amount which exceeds the statutory maximum and may be erroneous.  Notes: 1. Where a PFA does not appear in the list there have been no offenders fined in any of the years listed. 2. These data are presented on the principal offence basis. 3. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. 4. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice.

Antisocial Behaviour

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the effectiveness of measures it has employed to tackle anti-social behaviour in the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office commissioned an evaluation of antisocial behaviour orders in 2005 which was published independently by the contractors.
	The Home Office has since commissioned two further pieces of work evaluating interventions to tackle antisocial behaviour which will be published in due course.
	Three independent reports have confirmed that our approach to tackling antisocial behaviour is working. The National Audit Office (NAO) reported that two thirds of people stop committing ASB after one intervention, rising to nine out of 10 after three interventions. Many of these were warning letters and antisocial behaviour contracts which are voluntary measures.

Antisocial Behaviour

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) dispersal orders,  (b) local child curfew orders,  (c) juvenile curfew orders,  (d) directions to leave,  (e) child safety orders,  (f) designated public place orders,  (g) reprimands,  (h) warnings and  (i) anti-social behaviour orders have been issued in each police force area in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on these orders and disposals is set out as follows:
	 (a) Dispersal orders
	The Home Office have stated that since April 2006, the number of dispersal authorisations by force area has been collected by all forces as part of the Annual Data Requirement (ADR). Data from the ADR exercise for 2006-07 and 2007-08 will be published shortly.
	Prior to 2006 the Home Office conducted three data collection exercises from police forces on dispersal powers. A summary of the results of these exercises was published in the Respect paper Tools and Powers to Tackle Antisocial Behaviour in January 2007 and can be found at:
	www.respect.gov.uk
	 (b) Local child curfew orders
	Information on the number of local child curfew orders is not recorded centrally. It is not thought that any of these curfews have been used and a provision to repeal section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (powers to make local child curfew scheme) has been included in the Police and Crime Bill currently before Parliament.
	 (c) Juvenile curfew orders
	The requested information on juvenile curfew orders from the Ministry of Justice is included in Table A (copies of which are in the House Libraries).
	 (d) Directions to leave
	The information requested on the number of directions to leave issued by the police and arrests for failing to comply with the direction to leave is not collected centrally.
	 (e) Child safety orders
	Information on the numbers of child safety orders issued is not collected centrally.
	 ( f) Designated public p lace o rders (DPPOs)
	The Home Office has been informed that 712 DPPOs have been implemented throughout England and Wales. Data on DPPOs are held by local authority area and cannot be broken down by police force area. Table C contains data on the total number of DPPOs issued by year. A full list of current DPPOs issued is available at:
	www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/alcoholorders/alcoholorders09.htm
	 (g) Reprimands and (h) W arnings
	The Ministry of Justice have stated that the number of offenders aged 10 to 17 issued with either a caution (prior to 1 June 2000) or a reprimand or warning (from 1 June 2000) for all offences in England and Wales, by police force area up to 2007 is set out in Table B (copies of which are placed in the House Libraries).
	The figures relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has committed two or more offences at the same time, the principal offence is the more serious offence.
	Reprimand and warning data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	 ( i) Antisocial behaviour o rders (ASBOs)
	These were introduced on 1 April 1999. The latest available published data provided by the Home Office on the number of ASBOs issued at all courts in England and Wales up to 31 December 2006 is in Table D (copies of which are placed in the House Libraries).

Asylum: Deportation

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unsuccessful asylum seekers deported from the UK were refused entry on arrival at the country of their origin and subsequently returned to the UK in each of the last four years.

Phil Woolas: There are a variety of reasons why a person, during the removals process, may be refused entry to their country of destination. Due to this each case will be handled differently. Generally the person will be returned to the UK and re-enter the removals process.
	The number of individuals refused entry to their destination country is not centrally recorded. The information requested could only be obtained by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed and departed voluntarily from the UK on a quarterly and annual basis.
	National Statistics on immigration and asylum are placed in the Library of the House and are available from the Home Offices Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will require universities to report on student progress under the Tier 4 rules on immigration.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 18 June 2009
	No. The requirement for universities to monitor attendance rather than student progress provides the UK Border Agency with certainty that a student is following the course of study for which they were admitted rather than engaging in other activities such as employment.

Genocide: Rwanda

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Rwandans charged with involvement with the 1994 genocide have been deported to Rwanda from the UK.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 19 June 2009
	We have surrendered one indictee to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda using extradition procedures. In addition, we have assisted the Government of Rwanda in connection with extradition requests for four further genocide suspects, although the High Court recently ruled against their extradition.

Genocide: Rwanda

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to identify Rwandans resident in the UK who are known to be connected with the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 19 June 2009
	The Government policy is to deny safe haven to people who have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity, including genocide. In accordance with this policy the UK Border Agency has in place processes for screening those who are suspected of being involved in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.

Homicide: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of homicide involving a killing by a sharp instrument there have been in Peterborough constituency since 1997.

Alan Campbell: Available information is from the Homicide Index and relates to the number of homicides recorded between 1997-98 and 2007-08.
	Homicide data are not broken down below police force area level. Peterborough is covered by Cambridgeshire police so data for this force have been provided.
	
		
			  Homicides currently recorded( 1)  where apparent method of killing is sharp instrument( 2) , Cambridgeshire police force area and Wales region, 1997-98 to 2007-08 
			  Year( 3)  Number 
			 1997-98 1 
			 1998-99 1 
			 1999-2000 4 
			 2000-01  
			 2001-02 1 
			 2002-03 2 
			 2003-04 5 
			 2004-05 2 
			 2005-06 2 
			 2006-07 2 
			 2007-08 4 
			 (1) As at 4 November 2008; figures are revised as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Includes knives as well as other sharp instruments. (3) Offences are shown according to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made.

Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many caseworkers are employed by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner at each of the Office's locations.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 19 June 2009
	The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Home Office, and is responsible for recruiting its own staff. There is currently an overall staff complement of 66 and as of 18 June 2009, the OISC employs 20 full-time and one part-time caseworker plus three casework managers. All are based at the OISC's only office in Tooley Street at London Bridge.

Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration advisers were registered and exempted by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner between 2001 and 2009.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 19 June 2009
	 The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Home Office, and receives and deals with applications from advisers. Those individuals or organisations that charge for their advice and services pay a fee to the OISC to be regulated. Those individuals or organisations that provide advice and services without a charge are exempted from paying a fee to the OISC. No figures for 2001 and 2002 are available. Details of the numbers of advisers for years 2003-09 are:
	
		
			   Registered advisers  Exempted advisers  Total 
			 2001-02(1)    
			 2002-03(1)    
			 2003-04 499 2,297 2,796 
			 2004-05 1,034 2,291 3,325 
			 2005-06 1,241 2,392 3,629 
			 2006-07 1,770 2,356 3,915 
			 2007-08 1,677 2,395 4,061 
			 2008-09 1,851 2,386 4,199 
			 (1 )Some advisers work for more than one organisation and are counted more than once.

Passports: Lost Property

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to ensure that the number of passports lost by the UK Border Agency is minimised.

Phil Woolas: A variety of procedures to minimise the loss of passports and other personal documents, such as the use of secure document banks, are in place across the UK Border Agency. Procedures vary according to the requirements of specific locations and work streams and are kept under review. A compulsory training course, which includes responsibilities regarding the proper handling of passports and other personal documents, was introduced for all UK Border Agency staff in April this year.

Passports: Lost Property

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanism there is to record the number of passports lost by the UK Border Agency.

Phil Woolas: Passport losses are handled and recorded individually on casework records. We are piloting a mechanism to report losses centrally. In the future, under the Immigration Casework Programme, electronic case working and its associated processes will considerably reduce the likelihood of documents being lost while in the control of UKBA.

Serious Organised Crime Agency: Manpower

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) directors,  (b) senior managers,  (c) specialist and delivery managers and  (d) executive support and administration staff there were in each Serious Organised Crime Agency office in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The Serious Organised Crime Agency became operational on 1 April 2006. For reasons of operational sensitivity, it is not possible to break staff numbers down by location. Nor does the Agency designate staff with the job roles listed. In each of the last three years, approximately 1 per cent. of staff were occupied in grades equivalent to the senior civil service. The remainder of staff were deployed on a range of operational and practical tasks at home and overseas.

Surveillance: Data Protection

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the retention of  (a) data and  (b) other information collected through directed surveillance or covert human intelligence sources where the surveillance activity has revealed no evidence of wrongdoing.

David Hanson: Statutory codes of practice on communications data, covert surveillance and covert human intelligence sources are made under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers 2000. These require each public authority to have arrangements in place for the handling, storage and destruction of material. Authorising officers must ensure that all such data are held in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998, which stipulates that there must be a proportionate reason to retain material. The codes of practice for covert surveillance and covert human intelligence sources are currently being revised and were published in draft form as part of the RIPA consultation launched on 17 April.

Terrorism

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Office of Security and Counter-Terrorism has taken to develop an appropriate performance framework for counter-terrorism policing; and when he expects the framework to be implemented nationally.

Alan Johnson: We have developed a set of six counter-terrorism policing performance indicators, which were incorporated into the Assessments of Policing and Community Safety (APACS) performance framework and, for the first time, implemented nationally in 2008-09. These cover the extent and quality of local police counter-terrorism related intelligence, the disruption of potential threats, an evaluation of police Prevent programmes, and vulnerabilities around hazardous sites and crowded places. The results are not published, but will provide police forces, police authorities and Government with vital counter-terrorism information.
	This is complemented by current work led by the Association of Chief Police Officers Terrorism and Allied Matters business area (ACPO (TAM)) to develop a performance framework specifically for the police Counter Terrorism Network, and also by wider guidance being produced by the Association of Police Authorities for the scrutiny of all protective services.

Vetting

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many completed Criminal Records Bureau disclosures which did not contain details of any criminal conviction were issued with notes by a chief police officer in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many completed Criminal Records Bureau disclosures which did not contain details of any criminal conviction were issued in each police force area in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Johnson: The overall number of records checks conducted by the police forces which have resulted in such information being released in each year for which records are available can be found in the following table:
	
		
			   Disclosures issued  Disclosures with no LPF info  Disclosures with approved info from LPF 
			 2002-03 1,437,094 1,433,147 3,947 
			 2003-04 2,284,688 2,278,170 6,518 
			 2004-05 2,430,937 2,424,122 6,815 
			 2005-06 2,770,265 2,761,438 8,827 
			 2006-07 3,277,957 3,270,325 7,632 
			 2007-08 3,323,334 3,316,028 7,306 
			 2008-09 3,853,686 3,845,661 8,025 
		
	
	The CRB is unable to provide information broken down by each police force area because several forces may be involved with producing a single Disclosure. Furthermore, data are not available to distinguish between approved or additional information. To explain further, comments from chief police officers can be revealed on the face of a Disclosure as approved information or in rare cases sent separately to the registered body as additional information in the form of a separate letter.
	These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols, should be treated as provisional and is subject to change.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in cases where a private arrangement for child maintenance payments has been agreed between a non-resident parent and the parent with care, what requirement there is to notify the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC); and what mechanism there is for CMEC to ensure that the non-resident parent is paying an appropriate amount to the parent with care.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have therefore asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to my right hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in cases where a private arrangement for child maintenance payments has been agreed between a non-resident parent and the parent with care what requirement there is to notify the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC); and what mechanism there is for C-MEC to ensure that the non-resident parent is paying an appropriate amount to the parent with care.
	The Commissions new Child Maintenance Options service is already supporting and guiding parents through the choices they now have in arriving at a child maintenance arrangement best suited to the needs of their familywhether that is a private arrangement or one organised through the statutory service. They do this by ensuring parents understand all the options open to them including the provisions and protections of the statutory scheme. Should parents decide that a private arrangement best meets the needs of their family then there is no requirement for them to notify the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission that they have come to such an agreement. However either parent continues to be free to make an application to the statutory maintenance scheme if their private arrangement breaks down or is no longer satisfactory.
	The primary objective of the Commission is to maximise the number of effective maintenance arrangements for children who live apart from one or both of their parents and it has begun a programme of research, measurement and evaluation to provide robust measures and understand more about the attitudes, behaviours, service needs and expectations of its current and potential future clients.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission has made of the number of non-resident parents whose maintenance calculation has been made by the Child Support Agency and whose maintenance is paid directly to the parent with care are non-compliant with that calculation.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have therefore asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to my right hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-resident parents whose maintenance calculation has been made by the Child Support Agency and whose maintenance is paid directly to the parent with care does the Child Support Agency estimate are non-compliant with that calculation.
	At the end of March 2009 there were around 161,000 cases, where the maintenance calculation has been made by the Child Support Agency and maintenance is paid directly to the parent. These cases are treated as fully compliant.
	The number of parents choosing to pay and receive maintenance direct has grown by 30% over the last three years and is now around 13% of the live caseload. Parents with care are free to return to the collections service should they be no longer satisfied with receiving their maintenance direct. The Agencys latest estimate is that less than 1% of these cases return to the collections service each month.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  with reference to figures 16 and 18 in the National Audit Office report, Child Support Agency - Implementation of the Child Support Reforms, HC1174, Session 2005-06, if she will provide the same information for each year since 1993;
	(2)  in how many cases the Child Support Agency adjudicated that money was  (a) owed and  (b) not owed by the non-resident parent to the parent with care in each year since 1993;
	(3)  with reference to paragraph 14 of the National Audit Office report Child Support Agency - Implementation of the Child Support Reforms, HC1174, Session 2005-06, if she will provide the same information for each year since 1993;
	(4)  with reference to paragraphs 3.35 to 3.39 of the National Audit Office report Child Support Agency - Implementation of the Child Support Reforms, HC1174, Session 2005-06, if she will provide the same information for each year since 1993.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have therefore asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to my right hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	; and
	; and
	; and
	; and
	; and
	; and
	.
	The Child Support Agency routinely publishes the full range of available statistical information in its Quarterly Summary of Statistics, the latest copy of which is available in the House of Commons library or online at:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/publications/statistics.html
	The information that you have requested in your seven parliamentary questions set out above, which relate, in the main to the 2006 National Audit Office Report is routinely published in this statistical summary. The tables within this statistical summary which relate to your questions are set out below; however information is not always available to 1993 and information relating to the clerical caseload is also not always available in these tables.
	It should also be noted that in the three years since the National Audit Office report was published in June 2006, many changes have been made to the way in which the Agency monitors and reports its performance. In particular the focus has changed from monitoring cash and case compliance, which relate only to cases with a collection schedule in place had not been helpful, to refocus on the real purpose of the Agency; collecting money for children. We now report the amount of maintenance collected, the number of children benefiting from that maintenance, the percentage of cases which should benefit who do so and the calculation of maintenance for applications.
	In question 279053 you asked for an update of table 16 of the National Audit Office report, which provides information on case compliance, cash compliance, last decision accuracy and arrears collected as a percentage of arrears accrued. The latest case compliance figures from November 2005 only, are available in table 7.1 of the Quarterly Summary of Statistics. The tables relating to both cash compliance and arrears collected as a percentage of arrears accrued have been suspended from the Quarterly Summary of Statistics. Full reasons for this are set out in the notes to tables 11 and 12. Information on last decision accuracy is available in from March 2004 in table 17.
	You also asked for an update of table 18 of the National Audit Office report, which provides information on enforcement action taken by the Agency. A full updated time series is available in table 21 of the Quarterly Summary of Statistics.
	The information you requested in question 279054 is published in tables 2.2 and 2.3 of the Quarterly Summary of Statistics and gives the number of current scheme cases cleared each month by the Agency since 2003 and how many of these were initially assessed as owing and not owing money. This is information is not available for old scheme cases. Table 6 also gives a breakdown of the number of cases in any given month and the volumes that are assessed as nil liability as well as those positively assessed. This information is available for both schemes from November 1995.
	In question 279056 you asked for an update of paragraph 14 of the National Audit Office, which report provides information on uncleared applications, applications received and applications cleared. The opening summary table of the Quarterly Summary of Statistics provides information on the volume of uncleared current scheme applications which includes clerical performance from March 2007 only. Table 2.1 sets out a time series from 2003 of uncleared applications across both statutory maintenance schemes as well as applications and clearances which excludes clerical performance.
	In question 279057 you asked for an update of paragraphs 3.35 to 3.39 of the National Audit Office report, which provides information on the number of cases with a positive liability and breaks these down into those that pay maintenance, those yet to pay maintenance as well as further breakdowns detailing maintenance direct cases and assessed not charging cases.
	Table 6 of the Quarterly Summary of Statistics gives information on the case status of all cases with a maintenance assessment/calculation, while table 7,1 gives a breakdown of all cases where the Agency has requested maintenance and in how many cases maintenance was received. Table 7.2 gives information on the number of cases where maintenance was collected or arranged as well as the number of cases with a liability to pay maintenance. The information is available from November 1995.
	In question 279117 you asked for an update of figure 11 of the National Audit Office report gives information on the intake of current scheme applications, current scheme clearances and the volume of old scheme uncleared cases. This information is available in table 2.1 of the Quarterly Summary of Statistics from 2003 only.
	In question 279118 you asked for an update of figure 12 of the National Audit Office report, which gives the percentage of cases in age bands of current scheme uncleared applications at clearance and age of uncleared current scheme applications. A full time series is available in tables 4 and 5 of the Quarterly Summary of Statistics. As this is current scheme only, data is only available from 2003.
	Finally, in question 279119 you asked for information relating to errors in maintenance calculation; table 17 of the Quarterly Summary of Statistics gives information on the accuracy of maintenance decisions and how many were accurate to within a penny. This information is based on a sampling exercise and is available from March 2004.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  with reference to figure 11 in the National Audit Office report Child Support Agency Implementation of the Child Support Reforms, HC 1174, Session 2005-06, what the figures were for the three types of case in each month since 1993;
	(2)  with reference to figure 12 in the National Audit Office report, Child Support AgencyImplementation of the Child Support Reforms, HC 1174, Session 2005-06, if she will provide the same information in tabulated form for each year since 1993;
	(3)  how many cases registered with the Child Support Agency were  (a) found and  (b) projected to contain maintenance calculation errors in each year since 1993.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 June 2009
	The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have therefore asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to my right hon. Friend with the information requested.

Children: Maintenance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  when the classification of child tax credit as income when calculating the child support payments of a non-resident parent was last reviewed; and when it will next be reviewed;
	(2)  what assessment has been given to the effect on welfare of non-resident parents in assessing child tax credit as income when calculating their child support payments to the parent with child.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have therefore asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. The Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission.
	; and
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been given to the effect on welfare of non-resident parents in assessing child tax credit as income when calculating their child support payments to the parent with child.
	A general review of the statutory child maintenance calculation rules was undertaken prior to the publication of the White Paper A new system of child maintenance in December 2006. The White Paper subsequently set out the change to assessing maintenance based on non-resident parents gross weekly income currently planned for introduction during 2011. As a result tax credits will not be taken into account in assessing maintenance in the future scheme.
	No assessment of the effect on the welfare of the non-resident parent by including child tax credit as income when calculating child maintenance has been carried out.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate she has made of the number of children in the UK for whom maintenance payments  (a) are and  (b) are not made via the Child Support Agency.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 15 June 2009
	The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have therefore asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to my right hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of children in the UK for whom maintenance payments  (a) are and  (b) are not made via the Child Support Agency.
	The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission estimates that there are some 2.6 million separated families in Britain in which over 3 million children do not live with both their parents. Surveys indicate that less than half of these families have effective arrangements; of those that do, around half have made them through the Child Support Agency and half privately or through the courts.
	These estimates are derived from a combination of CSA administrative data; DWP and Office of National Statistics (ONS) survey data (Families and Children Study, Labour Force Survey); and ONS population projections. The Commission has therefore begun its own programme of research, measurement and evaluation to provide robust measures of the impact of the Commission's services on these families as well as to understand more about the attitudes, behaviours, service needs and expectations of its current and potential future clients.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission considers a reduction in the working hours of a non-resident parent grounds for an adjustment to the calculation of child maintenance payments.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 22 June 2009
	 The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have therefore asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. The Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission considers a reduction in the working hours of a non-resident parent grounds for an adjustment to the calculation of child maintenance payments.
	It is not the change in working hours which may have an effect on the maintenance assessment; rather it is any change in income. Parents should tell us if the non-resident parents regular income changes, or if there are any other changes to the information that we used to work out the amount of child maintenance that must be paid. For non-resident parents this includes information relating to: changes of address, the name and address of the employer, your payroll number and the amount you expect to earn. Similarly, parents with care must inform us if there is a change to the number of children living with them for which child maintenance is due, and the number of nights a child stays regularly with the non-resident parent. It is the responsibility of the client to inform us accordingly as to any change of circumstances.
	Not all change of circumstances will mean we need to change the amount of child maintenance due. In cases assessed under the current scheme we may not change the amount of child maintenance if the non-resident parents regular net weekly income changes by less than 5%.
	For cases assessed under the old scheme, we will, when notified, change the amount of child maintenance that must be paid, if it would change by £10 a week or more, or if we included an amount of protected income last time we worked out how much child maintenance must be paid, and the amount of maintenance the non-resident parent would have to pay would increase by £5 a week or more, or reduce by £1 a week or more.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Council Tax

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will change the name of council tax benefit to council tax rebate; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Improving council tax benefit take-up for pensioners is a key priority for the Department and we are taking active measures, working with local authorities to ensure people understand, and are encouraged to claim their entitlement.
	The Government acknowledge that renaming CTB to reflect its true nature as a tax rebate may encourage more people to claim their entitlement. This is something that we believe is worth doing and we will consider carefully the case for making the change when parliamentary time and resources allow.

Crisis Loans

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the effect on applicants for crisis loans of measures to limit the number of loan awards to any one applicant in a year to three;
	(2)  what underlying factors her Department has identified as causing individuals to make more than three applications for a crisis loan in the same year;
	(3)  pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 902W, on crisis loans, what assessment her Department has made of the reasons for the increase in the number of crisis loan awards made to applicants who had previously received four or more awards in the same year between 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Jonathan R Shaw: No such assessments have been made.
	We are currently testing the feasibility of making such assessments, in the future, in two Jobcentre Plus regions.

Departmental Cleaning Services

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which organisations provided cleaning services to her Department in each of the last three years; and what the cost of each such contract was in each such year.

Jim Knight: The Department has a PFI contract for the provision of fully serviced accommodation which includes cleaning. Cleaning services provided to the Department through this contract are delivered by MITIE Facilities Services Ltd. and ISS Facility Services. It is not possible to separate out the costs for cleaning.

Departmental Security

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many breaches of security have been reported at  (a) the Child Support Agency,  (b) Jobcentre Plus,  (c) the Pension, Disability and Carers Service and  (d) the Rent Service in the last five years; and what procedures each agency follows when a breach of security involves the disclosure of personal data.

Jim Knight: The Department takes its responsibilities to protect personal data extremely seriously, and follows the guidance which has been published by the Information Commissioner and Cabinet Office respectively when handling data-related incidents. Where significant breaches of security involve personal data, the Department will, in appropriate cases, alert individuals and provide them with support and advice, and bring the matter to the attention of the Information Commissioner. Details of significant personal data security breaches are published annually in the Department's resource accounts as was announced in the Data Handling Review published on 25 June 2008.
	Additionally, all important control weaknesses including other significant security breaches are included in the Statement on Internal Control which is published within the annual resource accounts.
	Small, localised breaches involving personal data are not recorded centrally, and consequently the information requested is not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Future Jobs Fund

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many  (a) local authorities,  (b) social enterprises and  (c) other third sector providers have (i) applied and (ii) qualified for money from the Future Jobs Fund;
	(2)  how many  (a) young people and  (b) people from other disadvantaged groups have received assistance from the Future Jobs Fund.

Jim Knight: The Future Jobs Fund is an important new initiative designed to create 150,000 new jobs; 100,000 of which will be for young people and 50,000 for those living in unemployment hotspots. We are currently inviting bids from a wide range of organisations and partnerships including social enterprises and third sector organisations, to create valuable jobs that bring real benefits to individuals and their communities.
	Funding will be allocated through a competitive bidding process that opened on 13 May 2009. The first jobs will be created by October 2009 and we recommend that bids to create jobs by then should be submitted by 30 June 2009. Officials will start the assessment process in early July. Thereafter, bids will be assessed on a rolling basis.

Jobcentre Plus: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) benefit delivery centres and  (b) customer-facing jobcentres operated by Jobcentre Plus there were in (a) Essex and (b) Castle Point in each of the last 24 months.

Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from  Ruth Owen :
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many Benefit Delivery Centres and customer-facing Jobcentres operated by Jobcentre Plus there were in Essex and Castle Point in each of the last 24 months. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mel Groves as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. As Mel Groves is currently on annual leave, I am replying in his absence.
	There is currently one Benefit Delivery Centre in Essex, situated in Basildon. This situation has been unchanged for the last 24 months. There are currently 14 Jobcentres across Essex, of which one, Canvey Jobcentre, is situated in your constituency. Within the last 24 months we have closed two Jobcentres in Essex.
	Customers are now using our Jobcentres differently. More of our face-to-face customer contact is on an appointment basis and information on job vacancies is readily available by telephone and the Internet. This enables staff in our offices to focus on those customers in greatest need of support to return to work. As part of this change in the way we work we decided that Stansted Airport Jobcentre should close on 1 July 2007 and Tilbury Jobcentre on 31 March 2008.
	Stansted Jobcentre had always focussed on providing our customers with access to vacancies with employers at the airport and we never offered an advisory or benefit service from there. For several years we have provided our advisory and benefit services for customers in Tilbury through Grays Jobcentre. In short, the major purpose of both of these Jobcentres was overtaken by the change in the way we work.

Maternity Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research she has undertaken on the reasons for which people do not take up Sure Start maternity grants; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: There has been no research on the reasons people do not take up Sure Start maternity grants.

Mobility Allowance

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if she will extend eligibility for the mobility allowance to people with a disability who are over the age of 65;
	(2)  if she will estimate the annual cost of giving a mobility allowance to every disabled person over pensionable age who would qualify for the allowance if they were under pensionable age; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what representations her Department has received from individuals or organisations in favour of the mobility allowance being made available to newly-disabled people over the age of 65 in the last two years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department received numerous representations from a broad range of individuals and organisations in the last two years on the matter of extending the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance to people who become disabled after the age of 65. The cost of introducing such a measure cannot be established as there are no reliable data on which estimates could be made of the number of people over the age of 65 who might be entitled to the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance if they were to make a claim.
	We have no plans to amend the entitlement conditions. It is normal for pensions and benefits schemes to contain different provisions for people at different stages of their lives. Disability Living Allowance is intended to focus additional help with the extra costs of disability on people who have the very considerable disadvantage of being severely disabled early, or relatively early, in life and who, in consequence, face limited opportunities to work, earn and save compared with non-disabled people.
	Attendance Allowance provides help with the disability-related extra costs of people who experience the onset of disability after age 65. Based on the need for personal care, this help is part of the wide range of support that the Government make available to older people so that they can have a decent and secure income in retirement.

State Retirement Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 868-69W, on the state retirement pension, if she will revise her estimate of the number of cases of pensioners potentially entitled to lump sum payments of backdated retirement pension through payment of Class 3 National Insurance contributions to take account of pensioners, identified by her Departments special exercise; how much has been paid out in such lump sums to date; to how many people; when she expects to complete this exercise; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1008W, on state retirement pensions: females, if she will estimate the number of women who will be entitled to a  (a) lump sum pension back payments only,  (b) lump sum back payments and home responsibilities protection (HRP) and  (c) HRP only by the end of the special exercise; and what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse in each case.

Angela Eagle: To date we have paid out £2 million to 2,738 women. As a result of this exercise we estimate around 26,000 women may benefit from paying voluntary contributions, correction of home responsibilities protection or both. For lump sum pension back payment only and home responsibilities protection only we estimate the total costs to the public purse to be between £14 and £16 million in benefit payments. For combined lump sum and home responsibilities protection cases we still do not have sufficient data to be able to reliably extrapolate costs. We expect to complete the exercise by the end of 2009.

State Retirement Pensions: EU Nationals

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what her most recent estimate is of  (a) the change in the number of EU citizens who will be entitled to the state pension and  (b) the likely change in public expenditure as a result of changes to national insurance contribution conditions in the Pensions Act 2008 over the next 25 years.

Angela Eagle: The Pensions Act 2008 changed the rules relating to voluntary national insurance contributions, allowing people who reach state pension age between 6 April 2008 and 5 April 2015 who already have at least 20 qualifying years (including Home Responsibilities Protection) to purchase up to an additional six missing years in their national insurance record since 1975.
	This policy is expected to have no effect on the number of EU citizens who will be entitled to state pension and overall the policy is estimated to be cost neutral.

Vacancies: Jobcentre Plus

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs have been advertised at the job centre in Milton Keynes in each of the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of  v acancies in Milton Keynes Jobcentre 
			   N otified vacancies  L ive unfilled vacancies 
			 June 2008 1,314 1,452 
			 July 2008 1,181 955 
			 August 2008 1,426 948 
			 September 2008 1,268 1,009 
			 October 2008 2,236 1,618 
			 November 2008 1,597 1,653 
			 December 2008 906 788 
			 January 2009 493 470 
			 February 2009 1,122 666 
			 March 2009 782 704 
			 April 2009 795 569 
			 May 2009 1,373 934 
			  Notes: 1. Data are unrounded. 2. Care should be taken in interpreting time-series data; changes to Jobcentre Plus vacancy handling procedures have led to a major discontinuity in the vacancy statistics pre and post May 2006. 3. These are not whole economy figures. Coverage relates just to vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus and as such represent a market share of vacancies throughout the whole economy. This proportion varies over time according to the occupation of the vacancy and industry of the employer and by the local area. Comprehensive estimates of all job vacancies (not just those notified to Jobcentre Plus) are available from the monthly ONS Vacancy Survey since April 2001, based on a sample of some 6,000 enterprises. However the ONS survey is currently designed to provide national estimates only. 4. Notified vacancies: monthly data on the inflow of newly notified vacancies to Jobcentre Plus. 5. The stocks of live unfilled vacancies reflect more accurately job opportunities available via Jobcentre Plus. In the case of unfilled vacancies, use of the figures on live vacancies is recommended (i.e. excluding suspended vacancies) and this is the default option. Live vacancies may still include some vacancies which have already been filled or are otherwise no longer open to recruits, due to natural lags in procedures for following up vacancies with employers. 6. These figures are published at:  www.nomisweb.co.uk.  Source: Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Child Minding

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2009,  Official Report, column 9, on child care (summer holidays) 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of  (a) fall in the number of child minders and  (b) the supply of child care through child minders over the last two quarterly returns;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on his Departments records on the number of child care places provided through child minders of recent changes to the methodology used in calculating that number.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 22 June 2009
	 Ofsted publish statistics on a quarterly basis showing the number of child care providers and the number of child care places recorded in the early years register and the general child care register. The latest set of figures showed a modest overall drop in the number of child care providers (-0.8 per cent.) and child minders (-1.6 per cent.), but a rise in the number of places offered by both group child care providers (13 per cent.) and child minders (11 per cent.).
	Recent changes in methodology may have had an impact on these results. Future reports will give a clearer indication of trends.

Children: Day Care

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what criteria apply to the provision of Early Years Foundation Stage learning and development exemptions to childminders; what appeals procedure applies when applications for exemptions are refused; what definition his Department uses of philosophical reasons for exemption; and what assessment has been made of the use of that definition in practice.

Dawn Primarolo: Any early years provider, including child minders, may apply for exemptions where they are temporarily unable to deliver the full EYFS learning and development requirements; or where the established principles which govern their practice conflict with elements of the EYFS learning and development requirements.
	All providers must seek the views of all the parents who have children at the setting and of the local authority and give a clear explanation setting out the rationale for seeking an exemption. Providers should demonstrate that their provision is governed by an established principle if they are applying due to a conflict with the EYFS requirements, evidence may include excerpts from staff handbooks, memorandum and articles of association, or information from the providers website. All applications are considered on a case by case basis on the information and evidence provided. Further guidance on the exemption process and types of exemptions that can be applied are available on the QCA website:
	www.qca.org.uk/eyfs-exemptions
	There is no appeals process when an application is refused, however providers may resubmit their applications if there has been a change in circumstance or additional evidence is provided that is likely to affect the decision not to grant an exemption or the terms of the exemption.
	We will keep this process under review as further applications come to light. However to date, we have only received one application.

Children: Day Care

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many registered childcare places for children under eight years old there were in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point in (i) 1997 and (ii) each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available by parliamentary constituency. Data were collected at local authority level only. Table 1 shows the number of child care places in Essex local authority for 1997. Table 2 and table 3 show the same information for 2004 to 2008 and 2009, respectively. Separate tables have been provided due to changes in Ofsted provider categories.
	
		
			  Table 1: n umber( 1, 2, 3)  of day care places for children under eight years of age by type of provider, Essex local authority area, position at 31 March 1997 
			  Type of provider  Number 
			 Day nurseries 5,600 
			 Playgroups and pre-schools 15,000 
			 Child minders 10,700 
			 Out of school clubs 900 
			 Holiday schemes 2,700 
			 Total 34,900 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100. (2) Data source: childrens day care facilities survey. (3) Figures may not add up to total due to rounding 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: n umber ( 1, 2, 3)  of registered child  care places for children under eight years of age by type of care, Essex local authority area, position at 31 March each year 
			  Type of care  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Full day care 10,200 11,300 11,800 12,700 
			 Sessional day care 10,700 10,300 10,200 9,900 
			 Child minders 7,300 7,900 7,900 7,100 
			 Out of school day care 5,700 6,200 6,000 5,600 
			 Crèche day care 900 900 900 800 
			 Total 34,900 36,600 36,800 36,100 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100. (2) Data Source: Ofsted (3) Figures may not add up to total due to rounding 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: n umber ( 1, 2, 3)  of registered child  care places for children under eight years of age by type of care, Essex local authority area, position at 31 March 2009 
			  Type of care  Number 
			 Child minders 8,300 
			 Child care on non-domestic premises 30,300 
			 Child care on domestic premises 0 
			 Home child carer n/a 
			 Total 38,600 
			 n/a = not available (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100. (2) Data Source: Ofsted (3) Figures may not add up to total due to rounding 
		
	
	Ofsted have collected information on the number of registered child care places available to children aged eight and under on a quarterly basis from March 2003. Their latest figures were published in their report Registered Childcare Providers and Places, March 2009, which is available on their website:
	http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Documents-by-type/Statistics/Registered-childcare-providers-and-places-in-England-December-2008-onwards

Children: Protection

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has allocated to local authority child protection services for 2009-10; and what recent steps his Department has taken to protect children from abuse.

Vernon Coaker: Expenditure on childrens social care has increased by over 90 per cent. in real terms between 1997-98 and 2008-09, from £2.218 billion in 1997-98 to £5.728 billion, equating to an average real terms increase of 6.1 per cent. per annum. The budgets for 2009-10 have not yet been finalised. It is the responsibility of all partners on childrens trusts to assess the adequacy of their funding on childrens services.
	The Government are also investing £130 million in social work reform over the full spending review period of which £57.8 million is additional new investment announced on 6 May 2009 as part of The protection of children in England: action planThe Governments response to Lord Laming. This represents a substantial commitment to support the recruitment, training and development of social workers and will significantly increase the capacity of the system to implement change immediately.
	The Government have already implemented significant reforms to safeguard children through Every Child Matters, endorsed by Lord Laming as providing robust legislative, structural and policy foundations which set the right direction and are widely supported. We have also taken action to prevent unsuitable people from working with children by strengthening requirements for CRB checks in education and establishing the Independent Safeguarding Authority, and we are introducing a new, tougher vetting and barring scheme under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. We have introduced statutory Child Death Review processes, a world first, so that local safeguarding children boards and their partners look across all child deaths in the local area, with the aim of reducing preventable child deaths and we have invested £30 million in the expansion and modernisation of the NSPCCs helpline services.
	As Lord Lamings recent report acknowledges, a great deal of progress has been made but we are determined to do everything possible to protect vulnerable children. That is why the Government have accepted all of Lord Lamings recommendations and have set out a comprehensive action plan in response. This is available from the website at:
	www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/laming

Childrens Centres

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Sure Start centres there are in each local education authority area.

Dawn Primarolo: At the end of April 2009 there were 3,018 Sure Start childrens centres across England. By 2010 there will be at least 3,500: one for every community. The information requested on the number of childrens centres in each local authority area will be placed in the House Libraries.

Pre-School Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what representations he has received on the effects of mandatory early learning requirements on  (a) diversity of provision and  (b) parental choice.

Dawn Primarolo: Since the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in September last year, Ministers have received representations from a wide range of stakeholders on the EYFS learning and development requirements. The vast majority of these have been extremely positive and welcoming of the EYFS as an important step forward for children. Concerns have been expressed about the early learning goals by some providers and representative groups, but we have yet to see any evidence of an impact on diversity or parental choice.
	We have introduced a process whereby providers and parents can apply for exemptions from the EYFS requirements and will also continue to listen to the sector and monitor the EYFS in the lead up to the review of EYFS in 2010.

Primary Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research he has evaluated for benchmarking purposes on educational attainment at age seven for children in  (a) England and  (b) EU member states where children begin formal education after the age of five.

Dawn Primarolo: There are no international comparisons studies of educational attainment at age seven that would enable us to benchmark our performance against other countries.

Schools: Sport

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department and its predecessors have allocated for the encouragement of physical exercise in schools in  (a) Mid-Bedfordshire constituency and  (b) the East of England in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The national strategy for PE and sport in schools was introduced in 2003-04. Prior to then, the only funding specifically dedicated for PE and sport from this Department was the additional funding for specialist sports colleges. Other funding for PE and sport was included in the standards fund grants to schools. Dedicated funding for PE and sport from this Department for Mid-Bedfordshire and the East of England has been as follows:
	
		
			  Mid-Bedfordshire 
			  £ 
			   Sports colleges  School sport partnerships  Total 
			 2003-04(1) 189,680 (2) 189,680 
			 2004-05 146,538 151,194 297,732 
			 2005-06 155,904 151,194 307,098 
			 2006-07 152,736 381,463 534,199 
			 2007-08 152,736 380,387 533,123 
			 2008-09 153,381 386,917 540,298 
			 2009-10 151,833 394,177 546,010 
		
	
	
		
			  East of England 
			  £ 
			   Sports colleges  School sport partnerships  Sports facilities grant  Total 
			 1997-98(3) (3)    
			 1998-99 182,500   182,500 
			 1999-2000 301,500   301,500 
			 2000-01 815,432   815,432 
			 2001-02 1,663,283   1,663,283 
			 2002-03 2,507,293   2,507,293 
			 2003-04 £3,467,024   £3,467,024 
			 2004-05 4,408,361 (2)5,408,330  9,816,691 
			 2005-06 4,943,816 8,575,414  13,519,230 
			 2006-07 5,549,469 14,342,900  19,892,369 
			 2007-08 5,894,816 14,888,011  20,782,827 
			 2008-09 6,083,790 16,748,747 (4)1,452,500 24,285,037 
			 2009-10 5,835,975 17,063,137 2,460,000 25,359,112 
			 (1) There were no sports colleges in Mid-Bedfordshire prior to 2003-04. (2) Sport England funded school sport partnerships prior to 2004-05. (3) There were no sports colleges in East of England prior to 1998-99. (4) Sports facilities grant was only in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Schools: Sport

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding will be provided to  (a) the Association for Physical Education and  (b) other sports professionals for continued professional development under his Departments PE and Sport Strategy for young people in the period 2008-11.

Iain Wright: The Department has allocated funding of £3.1 million per year over the three financial years from 2008-11 for the PE and Sport professional development programme. This programme is being delivered by a consortium made of the Youth Sport Trust, the Association for Physical Education and Sports Coach UK.

Young Offenders

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to tackle the causes of youth criminality.

Dawn Primarolo: The Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP), published in July 2008, set out the Governments plans for tackling offending by young people. It detailed our plans for a triple track approach which involves early intervention and prevention, tough enforcement and non-negotiable help and support. It also states our ambition to reduce the rate of young people entering the criminal justice system by one fifth by 2020. This commitment is supported by close to £100 million over three years, in addition to the existing significant investment in childrens and youth services, to support local authorities in making inroads into youth crime locally.
	This Department has also invested in local projects to ensure that young people who are issued with antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) or Acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) are given follow-up support from a mentor to address the causes of their behaviour and prevent them entering the criminal justice system. Between September 2008 and April 2009 nearly 8,000 young people and families benefited from these Challenge and Support projects in 52 areas.
	As well as reducing antisocial behaviour, the interventions have improved family relationships, school attendance, and young peoples involvement in youth activities and reduced homelessness and substance misuse.
	In addition, the Youth Justice Board are investing £32 million this year to deliver targeted prevention programmes such as youth inclusion programmes (YIPs), which are tailor-made programmes for eight to 17-year-olds, who are identified as being at high risk of involvement in offending or antisocial behaviour; multi-agency youth inclusion and support panels (YISPs) to prevent antisocial behaviour and offending by eight to 13-year-olds; and various parenting programmes which provide parents with opportunities to improve their skills in dealing with the behaviour that puts their child at risk of offending. All of these programmes build on the significant investment committed to other wider prevention programmes which make a contribution to preventing young peoples involvement in criminal activity in deprived areas. Key examples of this are the work done to help young people take part in structured positive activities and to improve facilities in deprived areas through the Positive Activities for Young People and Myplace programmes and additional parenting support such as the Parenting Early Intervention Programme, Family Intervention Projects and expert parenting practitioners.
	In the three years to 2011, we will also have invested £6 billion through Sure Start towards securing better services for children young people and their families, with an emphasis on the most disadvantaged communities. This includes co-locating services through Sure Start Childrens Centres and extended schools.

TREASURY

Banks: Finance

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fees  (a) Barclays Capital,  (b) Goldman Sachs,  (c) HSBC and  (d) the Royal Bank of Scotland received from her Department for taking part in the syndicated Government bond sale of 16 June 2009.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 19 June 2009
	The four Lead Managers (Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs, HSBC and RBS) of the syndicated offering on 16 June of 4.5 per cent. Treasury gilt 2034 each received £3.08 million in fees. Including fees paid to the Co-Lead Managers, total fees paid were £14.0 million.

Child Poverty Bill

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the cost of implementing the provisions of the Child Poverty Bill  (a) in Wales and  (b) in total.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The costs of implementing the Child Poverty Bill are set out in the impact assessment, which was published alongside the Bill on introduction. The impact assessment outlines the increase in public sector administrative costs expected to arise from the Bill, estimated at an annualised average of £7,260,000 in 2008-09 prices. This includes the costs of establishing the Child Poverty Commission and producing a child poverty strategy.
	None of these costs are attributed to delivery in Wales. The Welsh Assembly Government have introduced their own legislation, the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2009 which includes a duty to prepare a Welsh child poverty strategy. The associated costs are set out in the impact assessment published alongside the Measure. Provisions within the Measure, including a duty on Welsh Ministers to prepare a child poverty strategy for Wales, will be financed through the Welsh Assemblys budget.

Departmental Food

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the  (a) meat,  (b) fruit and  (c) vegetables procured by his Department in the last 12 months was produced in the UK.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: For the financial year 2008-09, 60 per cent. of all foods served by the PFI catering sub-contractor for one HGR were sourced from within the UK.

Departmental Reviews

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) review and  (b) taskforce projects his Department has commissioned in each of the last five years; what the purpose of each such project is; when each such project (i) began and (ii) was completed; what the cost of each such project was; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Summary information on taskforces and other standing bodies is available in the annual Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies. Copies of Public Bodies 2008 are available in the Libraries of the House. Detailed information on ad hoc advisory bodies is available on Treasurys website. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the following link, which contains details on Treasurys independent reviews:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews_index.htm

EU Budget

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had at EU level on the contents of the National Audit Offices 2009 report on financial management in the European Union.

Ian Pearson: HM Treasury have had no discussions on this annual National Audit Office report to Parliament. HM Treasury does, however, see and comment on the draft of the report before it is published.

EU Budget: Contributions

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Department's officials work on calculating the UK's fortnightly payment to the European Communities budget; and how much the last such payment was.

Ian Pearson: Treasury officials, and officials in HM Revenue and Customs, calculate and check the twice monthly UK contributions to the EC Budget as a part of their overall job remit. The latest UK payment was made on 22 June and was £161,264,379.67.

Excise Duties: Beer

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons he decided to increase duty on beer in Budget 2009.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Alcohol duties are an important contributor to the public finances. The increase in duty on beer in Budget 2009 means the Government will receive additional revenue to support the public finances.

Financial Services Authority

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that the two new non-executive directors appointed to the Financial Services Authority Board have extensive professional skills, knowledge and experience from outside the financial services industry.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Treasury is responsible for appointing members of the FSA board. The recent advertisement for new non-executive directors sets out that candidates are expected to have at least one of the following areas of experience and expertise: a wide understanding of consumer issues within financial services and experience of representing consumer interests at the most senior levels; senior management experience in a major financial services or related institution; a thorough understanding of global economics and its relevance to international financial and business markets; a background within a financial services smaller company, e.g. a mortgage adviser, or an independent financial adviser. The selection panel, which comprises members of the Treasury, the FSA and an independent reviewer will then select the most suitable candidates for recommendation to the Treasury for appointment.

Financial Services Authority

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedure is being followed for recruitment for the two additional non-executive directors of the Financial Services Authority Board announced in March 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The process by which the appointment of non-executive directors to the board of the Financial Services Authority is as follows: there is an open advertisement and focused search, then a selection panel reviews all applications thoroughly and interviews short-listed candidates. The selection panel will select the most suitable candidates for recommendation to the Treasury for appointment. The selection panel comprises members of the Treasury, the FSA and an independent reviewer.

Financial Services Consumer Panel

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to announce the appointment of a new Chairman of the Financial Services Consumer Panel; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I expect that an announcement about the new chairman of the consumer panel will be made shortly.

Individual Savings Accounts: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of residents of  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point who have individual savings accounts.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Revenue and Customs does not have data on the proportion of residents of Essex and Castle Point who have individual savings accounts (ISA). However regional ISA statistics are published on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/isa/table9_12.htm

Inheritance Tax: Housing

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many valuations the Valuation Office Agency undertook for inheritance tax in 2008-09.

Stephen Timms: In 2008-09 the Valuation office Agency considered approximately 21,500 valuations submitted for inheritance tax purposes.

Legal Services Commission: Cost Effectiveness

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Legal Services Commission on best value tendering; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: There have been none. Responsibility for legal aid issues is a matter for the Secretary of State for Justice.

National Debt

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the year in which the UK's national debt will return to its 2008 level as proportion of gross domestic product.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The UK entered the global economic crisis with low public debt, which has given the flexibility to allow debt to rise in the short-term to support the economy. In the current environment of economic uncertainty, the Government's approach is to ensure that debt is on a downwards path in the medium term. The Budget set out plans that are consistent with debt falling as a share of GDP by 2015-16, in line with the temporary fiscal operating rule.

National Debt

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of servicing the UK's national debt was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Central Government debt interest payments in current prices are published monthly by the Office for National Statistics and can be found in Table 1.1C: Central Government (series NMFX), available on:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/tsdtables1.asp?vlnk=fsf
	Figures for May 2009, the latest period, were published in Table PSF3 in the public sector finances statistical bulletin on 18 June 2009.

Personal Savings

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps he has taken to safeguard the savings of  (a) pensioners and  (b) those on fixed incomes.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Since 1997, the Governments savings strategy has focused on developing better incentives for saving, ensuring people have the capability to make the right savings decisions for them, and that they have access to appropriate savings opportunities. To support this strategy, the Government have introduced a range of incentives to save, including ISAs. ISAs are extremely popular and are held by over 18 million people. The tax relief given through ISAs amounted to an estimated £2.4 billion in 2007-08.
	The Government are also committed to supporting pensioners through the global economic downturn, providing support for all and more for those who need it most. To provide additional support, Budget 2009 announced a package of measures to support pensioners who receive income from savings. From October 2009 the annual ISA investment limits will rise for people aged 50 and over to £10,200, of which up to £5,100 can be held in cash. In November 2009 the capital disregard in pension credit and pensioner-related housing and council tax benefit will increase, meaning the first £10,000 of capital will not be included when calculating someones entitlement for these income-related benefits. Budget 2009 also announced a new tax back campaign to contact pension credit recipients to encourage them to claim back tax they may have overpaid on their savings income and, where possible, register to receive interest on their savings tax-free in future.
	The Government have taken a range of measures to strengthen financial stability and improve protection for savings. These include bringing in a new Banking Act, which provides for new arrangements for the resolution of banks in distress, and for a new insolvency procedure for winding up failed banks which focuses on ensuring the rapid payout of compensation to, or the speedy transfer of the deposits of, retail depositors.

Private Rented Housing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations the Treasury has received against changes to the furnished home letting rules.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Treasury receives representations on a range of issues. As was the case with the previous Administration, it is not the Governments practice to provide details of such representations.

Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses for 2009.

Liam Byrne: Public expenditure statistical analyses 2009 was published on 18 June 2009.

Public Expenditure

Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been lent to  (a) UK businesses other than banks and financial institutions and  (b) UK homeowners in each month since August 2007.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Bank of England collects and publishes statistics on (both net and gross) lending to businesses and households. The full Bank of England dataset can be found at:
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/mfsd/iadb/NewIntermed.asp
	The codes for net lending are; LPMVTUV and LPMVWNQ.

Public Private Partnerships

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost to the public purse of public-private partnership liabilities in 2009-10.

Liam Byrne: Departmental estimates of payments under PFI contracts (signed deals) were published in the supplementary documents of the 2009 Budget, which can be found at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/Budget2009/bud09_econfinances_968.pdf

Public Sector: Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on public expenditure of raising the public sector pension age to 68 on a phased basis in line with the increase in the state pension age; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: No estimate of the effect on public expenditure of raising the public sector pension age to 68 on a phased basis in line with the increase in the state pension age has been made. Occupational pensions, such as public sector pensions, involve different structures and rights to state pensions, which make it far more administratively complex and costly to apply phasing in such a way.

Taxation: Foundry Sand

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the level of taxation on waste foundry sand; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The disposal of used foundry sand to landfill is currently able to benefit from the lower rate of landfill tax. Used foundry sand, and other wastes, were established as lower rated in 1996 on the basis of the then understanding that they were not active and their landfilling results in a relatively lower level of environmental impact.
	At Budget 2009, the Government published a consultation document, Modernising Landfill Tax Legislation which proposes, inter alia, that, in order to strengthen the environmental integrity of the tax, the benefit of the lower rate should be restricted to those wastes which are inert according to the tests provided for at a European level which post-date the establishment of lower rated wastes. The consultation document also seeks views on whether environmental criteria other than inertness should be taken into account when deciding whether a waste might be lower rated. It identified used foundry sand as a waste that would cease to be lower rated if inertness were the only criterion. Comments on the proposals are welcomed by the consultation deadline of 24 July 2009.

VAT: Channel Islands

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue that would accrue to the Exchequer from applying the value added tax regime in force on the mainland to goods brought in from the Channel Islands.

Stephen Timms: Travellers to the UK from the Channel Islands are entitled to bring in up to £340 of goods VAT-free. No estimate has been made of the resultant cost of the VAT foregone.
	Goods supplied to UK consumers from the Channel Islands benefit from low value consignment relief and are not subject to UK VAT if they are valued at under £18. The latest estimate of the cost of this relief in respect of supplies from the Channel Islands of around £80 million for 2007-08 was set out in the answer I gave on 12 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2148W.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Housing: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 7 May 2009,  Official Report, column 383W, on council housing, how much was spent under each budgetary heading on each  (a) stakeholder workshop and  (b) regional event; and how many people attended each event.

Ian Austin: There have been three workshops for each of the four work streams within the review. Attendances were:
	
		
			   1st workshop  2nd workshop  3rd workshop 
			 Costs and standards 23 19 23 
			 Rents and service charges 27 25 18 
			 Funding mechanisms 26 20 23 
			 HRA rules 27 27 20 
		
	
	10 of the workshops were held in my Department's headquarters and the cost of catering was on average £207.22 per event.
	One of the workshops was hosted and paid for by a stakeholder organisation.
	The remaining workshop was held in a hired venue and the cost was £1,226.00 including catering.
	There were three regional events, two in Bristol and Birmingham, held in Government offices for the regions, and one in London, held in departmental headquarters. Attendance in Bristol and Birmingham was 31 and 28 respectively. Attendance in London is not recorded but the event was a similar size to the others. There is no separate record of catering costs, but arrangements were on a similar scale to the workshops.
	There were two seminars for regional and national tenant organisations, both held at departmental headquarters. Attendance was 28 and 19 respectively. The cost of catering for the regional event was £275.20. Catering costs for the national event are not held separately but the figure would have been slightly less than for the regional event. Tenants' travel expenses to London were reimbursed. A precise figure for expenses for this purpose is not available, but the total is approximately £3,600.

Council Housing: Property Transfer

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many applications for section 27 consent were  (a) made by local authorities and  (b) granted in each year since 1997.

Ian Austin: holding answer 19 June 2009
	Since 1997, 66 local authorities have submitted an application for section 27 consent to delegate their housing management services to an Arms Length Management Organisation, and 41 to a private company under a private finance initiative. In each case, the application was approved by the Secretary of State. We also receive applications relating to other bodies, but no more than five or six a year.
	It is Government policy to work closely with local authorities to ensure that any applications will be acceptable to the Secretary of State.

Council Housing: Property Transfer

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether consent for transfer of housing stock from a local authority to a housing association has been withheld on one or more occasions following a ballot of tenants.

Ian Austin: A local authority would only apply for consent to transfer stock to a registered social landlord after a positive vote in a ballot of tenants. The Secretary of State has not withheld consent for such a transfer to proceed.

Council Housing: Rents

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information  (a) his Department,  (b) the Homes and Communities Agency,  (c) the Tenant Services Authority and  (d) the Audit Commission collects on rent arrears in local authority housing.

Ian Austin: CLG collect information on rent arrears in local authority housing via the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) second advance subsidy claim form. This includes information on current tenants' cumulative arrears of rent, former tenants' cumulative arrears of rent and total cumulative arrears as a percentage of rent roll.
	The Audit Commission, the Homes and Communities Agency and the Tenant Service Authority do not collect information on local authority rent arrears.

Council Housing: Waiting Lists

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were on local authority housing waiting lists in Castle Point  (a) on the latest date for which figures are available,  (b) in each of the last five years and (c) in 1997.

Ian Austin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 June 2009,  Official Report, column 17W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Gwynne).

Council Tax

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will publish a summary of representations received by his Department on council tax in the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: Communities and Local Government only publishes summaries of representations which are received in response to public consultations.
	There have been two public consultations regarding council tax in the past three years and a summary of responses, for each consultation, is published on the Communities and Local Government website. The following consultations have taken place:
	Inclusion of Efficiency Information with Council Tax Demand Notices: Consultation (3 September 2008)summary of responses available at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/counciltaxefficiencyresponse
	Amendments to council tax and non-domestic rates secondary legislation (8 August 2006)summary of responses available at:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20081205143343/
	http://communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/amendmentscouncil2

Eco-Towns

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the PricewaterhouseCoopers stage 2 financial viability study of the eco-towns programme will be made publicly available before the eco-towns planning policy statement and its associated list of approved eco-town sites is approved.

John Healey: The Financial Viability Study of the Eco-towns Programme was published on our website on 5 March 2009 as part of the eco-towns consultation.

Empty Property

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the number of empty dwellings in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) Teesside and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Ian Austin: Details of the total number of empty dwellings reported by local authorities in October 2008 are shown in the following table. Data are not available at constituency level.
	Data for other parts of the UK are a matter for the devolved Administrations.
	
		
			   Total number of empty dwellings 
			 Middlesbrough 2,716 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 2,196 
			 Teesside(1) 10,123 
			 North East 50,623 
			 England 784,022 
			 (1) Teesside consists of the unitary authorities of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on Tees.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) minimum and  (b) maximum grant available under the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme will be.

John Healey: Minimum and maximum grant levels have not been set for the Kickstart programme.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many expressions of interest were received by the Homes and Communities Agency in relation to the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme before 8 June 2009; and how many were from  (a) arms-length management organisations,  (b) registered social landlords and  (c) private sector developers;
	(2)  how many applications for funding support via the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme have been received in each region;
	(3)  how many bidders for funding under the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme have applied for  (a) equity and  (b) loan investment support;
	(4)  how many and what proportion of bidders for funding from the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme have applied for support via  (a) Affordable Housing Grant,  (b) Investment Support and  (c) Homebuy Direct; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  how much has been applied for by bidders under the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme has been to date.

John Healey: The HCA are assessing the bids received; we will publish such data shortly.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what he expects the average amount of grant per unit for the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme to be.

John Healey: The amount of grant allocated under the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme will depend upon the mix of bids received. Funding will be allocated under a competitive basis based on value for money.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  by what mechanism the book value of land in relation to applications made by housing developers via the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme will be defined;
	(2)  what mechanism is in place to ensure that bank loan finance for housing development schemes has been maximised before financial support is granted via the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme.

John Healey: At the expression of interest stage, applicants have been asked to provide the most recent book value from information already available. For all projects that are short-listed for funding, the book value will need to be justified, and will be tested through a technical due diligence review.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanism exists to ensure that new homes built by developers with funding from the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme meet Homes and Communities Agency standards.

John Healey: Homes in receipt of funding under the Kickstart Housing Delivery Programme for Social Rent, Intermediate or HomeBuy Direct must meet the existing HCA standards for these programmes. Bids that do not meet these standards will be judged as ineligible under the Kickstart eligibility criteria.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether provision exists for developers to pay interest on loans from the Homes and Communities Agency in relation to the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme.

John Healey: The HCA will charge interest on loans in relation to the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme, in compliance with existing state aid clearances.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role regional development agencies will play in the distribution of funding via the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme.

John Healey: RDAs will play no formal role in the distribution of funding via the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme. However, part of the assessment of bids includes an assessment of the schemes contribution to spatial or other regional programmes and priorities.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the likely total cost of the due diligence process for the Homes and Communities Agency in respect of the operation of the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme.

John Healey: The estimated cost for the due diligence process for the HCA in respect of the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme is £2,550,000.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the definition of a housing-led scheme is in respect of applications for funding made under the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme.

John Healey: In respect of applications for funding made under the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme, a housing-led scheme is defined as a scheme with at least 75 per cent. of net internal area as housing. Community floorspace required under a S106 agreement can be excluded from this calculation.

Housing: Energy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) assistance and  (b) incentives there are to (i) build and (ii) upgrade homes to energy-efficient standards.

John Healey: Government are supporting the transition to low and zero carbon new build homes by providing funding for the Zero Carbon Hub, a not for profit company formed to guide, monitor and co-ordinate the zero carbon homes programme. In 2008-09, the Department provided approximately £250,000 grant funding towards the hub to help with set-up costs.
	Stamp duty relief for zero carbon homes was announced in Budget 2007 to act as an incentive to developers of new zero carbon homes. The exemption covers the first acquisition of a zero carbon home costing up to £500,000. For homes costing in excess of £500,000 there will be a reduction of £15,000. The exemption is in place for a period of five years ending on 30 September 2012.
	Government currently assist householders looking to retrofit their homes by providing: information on current energy performance through energy performance certificates; advice on what can be done and how to do it through funding of the Energy Saving Trust; and help with financing new measures through initiatives such as Decent Homes, the Landlords Energy Saving Allowance, and the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target supplier obligation scheme.
	The Department of Energy and Climate Change will be establishing feed-in tariffs in 2010 and the Renewable Heat Incentive in 2011, to incentivise uptake of low carbon and renewable heat and energy production. The roll-out of smart meters to homes will increase awareness of the energy people use and potentially the money they waste, further incentivising energy saving.
	Government are currently assessing responses to the Heat and Energy Saving Strategy consultation, which set out the Governments long-term plans for assisting and incentivising householders and landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. A summary of responses will be published alongside the Governments response later this year.

Local Government: Complaints

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the separate recording of numbers of complaints received from  (a) hon. Members and  (b) councillors of (i) the same authority and (ii) another authority;
	(2)  what guidance his Department gives to local authorities on recording the number of complaints about their services received  (a) by mail,  (b) by email,  (c) by telephone,  (d) in person and  (e) by other means.

Rosie Winterton: Guidance to local authorities on running a complaints system is issued by the local government ombudsman, who issued updated guidance in April 2009, which makes clear the importance of effective recording of complaints.

Local Government: Contracts

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have tendered contracts through reverse e-auctions in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: Records are only kept centrally of local authority e-auctions that relate to Buying Solutions e-auctions, an Executive Agency of the Office of Government Commerce in the Treasury. The figures from Buying Solutions are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of local authorities who have tendered contracts through eauctions( 1) 
			   Number 
			 2004-05 9 
			 2005-06 20 
			 2006-07 16 
			 2007-08 14 
			 2008-09 15 
			 (1) Each local authority has been counted once only in each year.

Local Government: Public Participation

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent research his Department has commissioned on public involvement in its policy formulation at a local and regional level; and what steps his Department is taking to increase public involvement in its policy formulation.

Rosie Winterton: Details of research projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government and its predecessors are available from our research database (RD) at
	http://www.rmd.communities.gov.uk/
	The database provides information on projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government and predecessor Departments going back to 30 November 2001. This includes the subject and cost of each research contract.
	The Department involves the public in policy development in those public policy areas where we lead. This includes a range of methods including public consultation, market research, polling, and focus groups. More generally, it has been this Departments policy to increase public engagement and involvement with decision making at each level of Government. The first major government policy statement on empowering people (Communities in control: real people, real power White Paper, published in July 2008) has been a very significant step in transferring power to citizens and communities. The recently published Communities progress report provides a summary of the progress made in delivering the various White Paper commitments and the actions that are still to be implemented. This document can be found at
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/communitiesprogressreport

Mayors

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the merits of direct elections of local authority mayors.

Rosie Winterton: On 5 October 2007, the Department published the final report of the five year Evaluating Local Governance (ELG) research, which looked at the impact of the changes introduced in the Local Government Act 2000including the directly elected mayoral model of governance.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people have  (a) applied for and  (b) been refused assistance through the Mortgage Rescue Scheme in each month since its inception.

John Healey: The Mortgage Rescue Scheme has been operational across England since January 2009. As part of the monitoring arrangements for the scheme, headline data for January-April 2009, provided by local authorities operating the scheme and broken down by Government office region, are available on the Departments website. The figures can be assessed using the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/mortgagerescuestatistics.
	At Budget 2009 it was announced that the Mortgage Rescue Scheme would be expanded to include some households previously excluded due to negative equity. We have also reviewed and raised the regional property price caps. These changes came into effect from 1 May.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of people who qualify for homeowner mortgage support but do not receive such assistance.

John Healey: The aim of Homeowners Mortgage Support is to prevent repossessions, where households suffer a temporary income shock. After taking money advice, homeowners apply to their lenders to join the scheme, which allows them to defer up to 70 per cent. of the interest due. The Government have published an impact assessment, which estimates the number of borrowers that could be eligible. Official figures on the number of households entering the scheme will be published later this year.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people have  (a) applied for,  (b) been granted and  (c) been refused assistance under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme in (i) England and (ii) Peterborough constituency in each month since its inception.

John Healey: The Mortgage Rescue Scheme has been operational across England since January 2009. As part of the monitoring arrangements for the scheme, headline data for January-April 2009, provided by local authorities operating the scheme and broken down by Government office region, are available on the Departments website. The figures can be assessed using the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/mortgagerescuestatistics.
	At Budget 2009 it was announced that the Mortgage Rescue Scheme would be expanded to include some households previously excluded due to negative equity. We have also reviewed and raised the regional property price caps. These changes came into effect from 1 May.
	According to our records, Peterborough city council has not submitted monitoring statistics since the inception of the scheme in January 2009, so we are unable to provide the information requested about Peterborough at this time.

Non-Domestic Rates

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the basis was for the information contained in the August 2004 National Non-Domestic Rates Transitional Arrangements Consultation, on the proportion of properties with capped increases in business rates bills under transitional relief schemes of one to five years in each year from 2005-06 to 2009-10 and the revenue implications of each scheme.

Rosie Winterton: The information used for the August 2004 National Non-Domestic Rates Transitional Arrangements Consultation was an analysis of the comparison between the 2000 Rating List and the unpublished 2005 Ratings List.

Non-domestic Rates: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many businesses in  (a) the London Borough of Bexley and  (b) Greater London receive small business rate relief;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of businesses in  (a) the London Borough of Bexley and  (b) Greater London which qualify for but do not claim small business rate relief.

Rosie Winterton: The number of businesses receiving small business rate relief as at 31 December 2006, the latest date for which data are available, in the London borough of Bexley was 1,350. At the same date, the number of businesses in Greater London receiving small business rate relief was 43,100.
	We have not made an estimate of the number of businesses in the London borough of Bexley or Greater London which qualify for small business rate relief but do not claim it.

Planning Obligations

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy to instruct local authorities to make public  (a) monies received through planning obligations and  (b) the distribution of such funding.

Ian Austin: The Government already recommends, through policy on the use of planning obligations set out in Circular 05/2005: Planning Obligations and in related guidance Planning Obligations: Practice Guidance, that local planning authorities should keep accurate records of developer contributions which can be used to provide information to the public. Both publications are available on the Departments website.

Private Rented Housing

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to adopt a national registration scheme for private rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Austin: The Department is currently consulting on proposals for a national register of private landlords following the Rugg Review of the private rented sector.
	A copy of the consultation document can be found at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/responseruggreview
	Responses are invited by 7 August 2009.

Regional Government: Manpower

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff there were in each  (a) policy and  (b) locality division in each regional Government office in each year from 2001-02 to 2008-09; and how much was paid in bonuses to staff in each such division in each of those years.

Rosie Winterton: We cannot provide the requested breakdown of Government Office staff numbers or paid staff bonuses as this information has not been collected at divisional level.
	We can provide a breakdown of the total number of staff in each regional Government Office per financial year from 2001-02 to 2008-09.
	
		
			  (a) Staff numbers 
			  GO (April)  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 East 189 202 250 292 284 272 221 200 
			 East Midlands 231 251 288 312 299 271 219 204 
			 London 312 303 350 377 340 289 244 243 
			 North East 263 291 308 344 336 310 260 242 
			 North West 389 333 376 388 373 365 288 258 
			 South East 269 305 303 346 342 303 276 252 
			 South West 269 296 311 369 354 317 269 238 
			 West Midlands 304 292 339 344 333 288 254 240 
			 Yorks and Humber 266 276 290 324 309 289 239 218 
		
	
	The following table details the amount paid in staff bonuses in the regional Government Offices for the financial years 2004-05 to 2008-09. Staff bonus information for the financial years 2001-02 to 2003-04 is not available as it pre-dates our current accounting system.
	
		
			  (b) Staff bonuses paid 
			  £ 
			  GO  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 East 67,548 68,863 129,458 138,504 123,738 
			 East Midlands 64,891 82,182 129,472 142,354 104,990 
			 London 119,971 133,102 179,890 236,604 176,498 
			 North East 76,938 83,887 114,998 167,244 125,138 
			 North West 96,600 142,036 175,544 2?6,331 172,830 
			 South East 96,521 154,367 139,396 191,291 152,973 
			 South West 84,816 44,737 146,415 181,338 146,185 
			 West Midlands 110,053 122,006 134,693 204,615 160,573 
			 Yorks and Humber 90,228 104,977 142,979 178,320 140,729

Right To Buy Scheme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much right to buy receipts were in each year since 1997; and how much of them was retained by local authorities in each year;
	(2)  how much accrued to the Exchequer from Right to Buy receipts in each year between 1997-98 and 2004-05.

Ian Austin: The following table shows the level of receipts received by local authorities arising from right to buy (RTB) sales.
	
		
			  Financial year  RTB receipts (£ million) 
			 1997-98 890 
			 1998-99 911 
			 1999-2000 1,374 
			 2000-01 1,426 
			 2001-02 1,566 
			 2002-03 2,210 
			 2003-04 2,936 
			 2004-05 2,575 
			 2005-06 1,544 
			 2006-07 1,145 
			 2007-08 934 
			 2008-09 (1) 
			 (1 )Final figures not yet available. 
		
	
	Local authorities retain 25 per cent. of the proceeds from RTB sales, but the Department does not hold records of these amounts. The data provided to the Department by local authorities may include figures for other relevant consents and so it is not possible to provide an accurate split between the proportion of receipts retained by the authority and that collected by the Department.
	However, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) on 27 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1118W. This states the total amount of local authority housing receipts which have been transferred to the Exchequer since 01 April 2004.

Shared Ownership Schemes

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received from housing associations on provision of credit to those seeking to purchase property under shared ownership schemes from lenders  (a) wholly in the private sector and  (b) wholly or partly publicly-owned;
	(2)  what information his Department holds on the level of cash deposits requested by lenders granting mortgages for those participating in shared ownership schemes.

John Healey: Representations have been received by the Department from the National Housing Federation concerning the availability of mortgages and deposit requirements for shared ownership homes.
	The level of deposit required is a commercial decision for lenders which they base on their assessment of risk in prevailing market conditions and the circumstances of the purchaser. Of the 18 lenders currently willing to offer mortgages to shared owners, the maximum loan to value available on the share being purchased by the shared owner ranges from 75 per cent. to 100 per cent.

Social Rented Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average grant per unit from the £100 million fund for local authorities to build social homes in 2009-10.

Ian Austin: Our estimation, at this very early stage of the programme, is approximately £55,000 grant per home, with the expectation that the local authority might borrow a further £55,000 per home to complete a development.

Social Rented Housing: Copeland

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  by what date he expects all Copeland properties leased by social landlords to be at the decent homes standard;
	(2)  how many homes leased by social landlords in Copeland are below the decent homes standard.

Ian Austin: In June 2004 Copeland borough council transferred 3,780 homes to Copeland Homes which was part of the Home Group, a registered social landlord. It was agreed that these properties would be brought up to the decent homes standard by December 2010 apart from 538 properties for which Home was granted a waiver until December 2013. Copeland Homes is now fully merged into the group and does not report to the Tenants Services Authority separately on achievement of the Decent Homes Standard for the ex Copeland district council housing stock.

Social Rented Housing: Copeland

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department plans to take to meet the demand for social rented housing in Copeland.

Ian Austin: Copeland has been allocated over £1.2 million from the Homes and Communities Agency's 2008-11 Affordable Housing Programme to build 31 additional affordable homes, of which 23 will be for rent.

Social Rented Housing: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department plans to take to meet demand for social rented housing in Tamworth constituency.

Ian Austin: The Department does not itself directly take steps to match demand for social rented housing in local authorities. We encourage authorities to assess the housing needs of their area as part of their strategic housing role and then work in partnership with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and local registered social landlords (RSLs) to deliver the required number of homes through our National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP). This has already delivered £1.296 million of funding in 2008-09 for two schemes in Tamworth for rent and low cost home ownership.
	Nationally, The HCA has an additional £635 million from the April 2009 Budget to stimulate the housing market, including Kickstart Housing Delivery and funding for local authorities to deliver new council housing. The funding, announced in the 2009 budget, will allow councils to bid to deliver up to 900 new homes, building on their own land. Homes will be for social rent, built to high environmental standards. The first bidding round for this is currently under way and successful bidders will be announced in September. Tamworth could submit a bid for their funding if they so wished.

Temporary Accommodation: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households were in temporary accommodation in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point in each of the last five years; and what the average time spent in such accommodation was.

Ian Austin: Information about English local housing authorities actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected quarterly at local authority level.
	Data collected include the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to secure that suitable accommodation is available). If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes so.
	The number of households housed in temporary accommodation by local authorities as at the last day of each quarter, is also recorded. This figure consists of those households which have been accepted as owed the main homelessness duty; those for which inquiries are pending; those being accommodated for a limited period because they have been found intentionally homeless and in priority need; those being accommodated pending possible referral to another authority; and those being accommodated pending the outcome of a local authority review or county court appeal.
	Summary tables including the total number of households in temporary accommodation arranged by each local authority as at the end of each year between 1997-98 and 2008-09 (TA by LA), have been deposited in the Library.
	The county of Essex includes the following local authorities: Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Maiden, Rochford, Tendring, Uttlesford; and the unitary authorities, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.
	We do not collect centrally the average time spent in temporary accommodation for these households.

Temporary Accommodation: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households were in temporary accommodation in  (a) the London Borough of Bexley and  (b) Greater London in each of the last five years; and what the average time spent in such accommodation was.

Ian Austin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) today,  Official Report, (PQ 280453).

Temporary Accommodation: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households were in temporary accommodation in Milton Keynes in each of the last five years; and how long on average households spent in such accommodation.

Ian Austin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) today,  Official Report, (PQ 280453).

HEALTH

Maternity Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent assessment is of the adequacy of the level of provision of maternity services in  (a) Peterborough constituency and  (b) England.

Ann Keen: In 2008, the Healthcare Commission published Towards better births, a review of maternity services in England which assessed the quality, capability and efficiency of maternity services in England.
	Peterborough primary care trust commissions most of its maternity services from Peterborough and Stamford hospitals national health service foundation trust. The caesarean section rate is one of the lowest in the country.

Maternity Services

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of maternity services in  (a) Kettering constituency and  (b) England.

Ann Keen: In 2008, the Healthcare Commission published Towards better births, a review of maternity services in England which assessed the quality, capability and efficiency of maternity services in England.
	Kettering General Hospital NHS foundation trust is currently considering the feasibility of designating part of its existing midwifery unit as a midwife led unit, to increase the range of choices offered to women.

Social Care Green Paper

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the forthcoming social care Green Paper.

Phil Hope: The Care and Support Green Paper is to be published in early July, presenting an exciting opportunity for a comprehensive debate in England about developing a care and support system fit for the 21st century that rises to the challenge of people living longer, increased demand for services and higher expectations for the quality of care.

Berkeley Hospital

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on the relocation of Berkeley hospital; and what plans he has for the future use of the existing site.

Mike O'Brien: It is for the local national health service to determine how best to provide services that suit the needs of the local population, in consultation with clinicians and the general public.

NHS Targets

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of targets in raising standards of care in the NHS.

Mike O'Brien: Supported by this Governments historic levels of sustained investment, the national health service has delivered significant improvements in patient care and experience. A small number of national targets, focused on the things that matter most to patients, have helped achieve thisproviding cleaner hospitals; shorter waits for treatment; and shorter waits in accident and emergency.

Greater Manchester Ambulance Service

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to improve the response time of the Greater Manchester ambulance service.

Mike O'Brien: It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities and primary care trusts to support ambulance trusts to ensure national response time standards are delivered and sustained locally.
	The Department, via its performance delivery team, discusses performance with strategic health authorities to ensure that they work with local organisations to address performance issues.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further steps he plans to take to reduce the level of hospital-acquired infections.

Ann Keen: We are determined to build on the progress that has been made in reducing Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) over the last few years.
	As well as ongoing implementation of the current programme to reduce HCAIs, we will be introducing appropriate new mechanisms such as the Methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Objective to drive the number of infections down further.

First Aid Training

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to promote first aid training for members of the public.

Mike O'Brien: The Department has no plans to promote first aid training for members of the public.

Thalidomide

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals for a new compensation scheme for thalidomide victims in cases where the drug was prescribed on the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Thalidomide victims are already compensated through a private settlement, agreed between the Thalidomide Trust and Diageo plc.
	It is the Departments long-standing policy not to make ex-gratia payments to patients whose health has been adversely affected by the use of pharmaceutical products. Responsibility rests with the pharmaceutical company concerned.

Physical Activity: Young People

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to promote physical activity to maintain health among young people; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Departments £75 million Change4Life campaign will help every family in England do more physical activity. We are also contributing to a series of cross-government initiatives to promote physical activity in children and young people, including Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives, Healthy Schools, the Travelling to School Initiative, Healthy Further Education and Free Swimming.

Working Time Directive

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the effects of the European working time directive on junior doctors; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Secretary of State has had representations from Clinicians, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, individual Royal Colleges and the British Medical Association about the directive. We are working in partnership with these organisations to support the national health service implement the directive.

Nurses Pay

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of pay for nursing staff in the NHS.

Ann Keen: The pay of nursing staff in the national health service is covered by the independent NHS Pay Review Body. The review body takes evidence from the Government, trade unions and NHS Employers before making their recommendations about pay awards. Last year, the NHS Pay Review Bodys recommendation of a 2.75 per cent. pay award for 2008-09 was accepted in full by the Government as part of a three-year pay deal which included headline awards of 2.4 per cent. for 2009-10 and 2.25 per cent. for 2010-11. In December 2008, the NHS Pay Review Body decided not to seek a remit to review this years 2.4 per cent. headline pay uplift for nursing staff and others on the same NHS pay system.

Dementia Care

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent assessment is of the performance of dementia care services in  (a) East Devon constituency and  (b) England.

Phil Hope: The Department has made no specific assessment of the performance of dementia care services in East Devon constituency.
	However, the National Dementia Strategy for England was published on 3 February to improve services for people with dementia and their carers. The strategy is backed by £150 million funding and will focus on three key areas in relation to dementia services: improved awareness, earlier diagnosis and intervention, and a higher quality of care.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women in  (a) the Essex Strategic Health Authority area and  (b) England who had had (i) one, (ii), two, (iii) three, (iv) four, (v) five, (vi) six, (vii) seven, (viii) eight, (ix) nine and (x) 10 or more previous abortions had an abortion in 2008.

Gillian Merron: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of previous abortions for E ssex primary care trusts (PCTs)( 1)  and for England, residents, 2008 
			   Number of previous abortions 
			   0  1  2  3  4 or more  Total 
			 Essex PCTs(1) 3,565 1,418 340 83 32 5,438 
			 (1) Totals shown relate to PCTs for Mid Essex, North East Essex, South East Essex, South West Essex and West Essex. 
		
	
	
		
			   Number of previous abortions 
			   0  1  2  3 or more  Total 
			 England 124,042 47,464 11,009 3,703 186,218 
			  Note: Totals are grouped where there are less than 10 (0 to 9) cases and where a presented total would reveal a suppressed value when used with previously published data.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women aged  (a) under 16,  (b) 16 to 18,  (c) 19 to 24,  (d) 25 to 29, (e) 30 to 34,  (f) 35 to 39 and  (g) over 40 years of age in (i) Essex Strategic Health Authority and (ii) England who had (A) no children, (B) one child, (C) two children, (D) three children, (E) four children and (F) five or more children had an abortion in 2008.

Gillian Merron: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of abortions by parity and age for Essex PCTs( 1)  and for England, residents, 2008 
			   Number of previous live or stillborn pregnancies 
			  Essex PCTs( 1)  0  1  2  3  4  5 or more  Total 
			 Total 2,842 1,031 960 445 113 47 5,438 
			 
			 Under 19 846 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 897 
			 19 to 24 1,245 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 1,856 
			 25 to 29 432 249 237 103 (2) (2) 1,055 
			 30 to 34 182 195 233 131 (2) (2) 787 
			 35 to 39 104 106 224 112 30 16 592 
			 40 and over 33 43 97 49 15 14 251 
		
	
	
		
			   Number of previous live or stillborn pregnancies 
			  England  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7 or more  Total 
			 Total 97,003 37,739 31,452 13,304 4,527 1,453 478 262 186,218 
			   
			 Under 16 3,862 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 3,884 
			 16 to 18 22,803 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 25,115 
			 19 to 24 41,948 14,971 6,106 1,370 (2) (2) (2) (2) 64,705 
			 25 to 29 17,209 9,662 8,317 3,521 994 266 (2) (2) 40,057 
			 30 to 34 6,990 5,813 7,649 3,530 1,306 432 139 77 25,936 
			 35 to 39 3,155 3,681 6,343 3,281 1,283 466 182 106 18,497 
			 40 and over 1,036 1,470 2,867 1,581 679 251 88 52 8,024 
			 (1) Totals shown relate to PCTs for Mid Essex, North East Essex, South East Essex, South West Essex and West Essex. (2) Suppressed total less than 10 (0 to 9) or where a presented total would reveal a suppressed value.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department  (a) has commissioned,  (b) plans to commission and  (c) has evaluated on the reasons for trends in the abortion rate in England in 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: No research has been commissioned or is planned in this specific area and no future forecast of abortion rates has been made.
	The reasons women seek an abortion are complex and may be subject to a number of different factors. It is difficult to attribute any changes to one intervention or event.
	Contraception plays a vital role in preventing unintended pregnancy. Last year, the Government invested £26.8 million and has made a further £20.5 million available this year to improve womens access to contraception and help reduce the number of abortions, repeat abortions and teenage pregnancies. In addition, from 1 April 2009, contracts for national health service funded abortions include a requirement for providers to discuss and provide contraception for their clients.

Community Hospitals

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding he expects to be allocated to community hospitals under the Community Hospitals Fund in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: To date, 28 schemes have been awarded funding, totalling around £250 million and the following table sets this out in more detail.
	
		
			  Current approved schemes 
			  Strategic health authority  Primary care trust (PCD  Scheme  Department of Health funding (£ million rounded) 
			 North East Sunderland Teaching Washington Primary Care Centre 8.9 
			 North East Hartlepool Hartlepool Primary Care Facility 3.0 
			 North West Stockport St. Thomas 26.6 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Calderdale PCT, Kirklees PCT Calderdale and Kirklees Community Services 13.8 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Rotherham Rotherham Primary Care Centre 1.0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber North Yorkshire and York Selby Health and Community Campus 13.0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber East Riding of Yorkshire East Riding Community Hospitals (Beverley, Hornsea and Driffield) 17.0 
			 East Midlands Nottingham County Teaching Ashfield Community Hospital 1.149 
			 West Midlands Worcestershire Malvern Community Hospital 19.2 
			 East of England Suffolk Felixstowe General Hospital 1.8 
			 London Haringey Hornsey Community Hospital 1.76 
			 London Barking and Dagenham Barking Hospital 5.0 
			 London Richmond and Twickenham Teddington Health and Social Care Centre 4.0 
			 London Barnet Finchley Memorial Hospital 9.9 
			 London Kensington and Chelsea St. Charles Hospital 10.5 
			 London Greenwich Eltham and Mottingham Hospital 4.6 
			 South East Coast Hastings and Rother Hastings Primary Health Care Centre 12.3 
			 South East Coast Eastern and Coastal Kent Health and Social Care Centre at Kings Avenue, Ashford, Kent 9.0 
			 South Central Hampshire Gosport War Memorial Hospital 6.1 
			 South Central Southampton Royal South Hants Hospital 6.1 
			 South Central Portsmouth City Teaching St. Marys Community Hospital 17.1 
			 South Central Buckinghamshire Thame 4.0 
			 South West South Gloucestershire Yate Community Health Centre 5.0 
			 South West Somerset Minehead Healthy Living Park 24.5 
			 South West Bristol South Bristol Community Hospital 3.9 
			 South West Bath and North East Somerset Keynsham Health Park 5.8 
			 South West Gloucestershire Berkeley Vale 6.4 
			 South West Gloucestershire North Cotswolds 13.2 
			 Total Department of Health funding   c. 250

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to primary care trusts on the criteria applicable to the job specification for dental practice advisers; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: We have placed a model job description for a primary care trust dental adviser, which was prepared by the National Association of Dental Advisers, on the National Health Service Primary Care Commissioning website at:
	www.pcc.nhs.uk/435
	We will be advising on the role of the advisers in the dental public health team in guidance in preparation on building capacity and capability in dental public health.

Departmental Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many notifications his Department made to the Information Commissioner in the year ended 30 April 2009 in respect of the loss or mishandling of personal information or data; what was notified in each such case; and how many individuals were the subjects of personal information or data in respect of which such notifications were made;
	(2)  how many officials in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have been (i) disciplined and (ii) dismissed for (A) breaches of data protection requirements and (B) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in the last 12 months.

Mike O'Brien: Under the mandatory requirements of the Data Handling Report published on 25 June 2008, the Department is required to give a summary report on data breaches reported to the Information Commissioner in our annual resource accounts.
	The Department reported on personal data breaches in the 2007-08 annual resource account and this can be found at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/DH_089421
	The Department had no reportable losses or other incidents involving personal information in the year ended 30 April 2009 and therefore made no notifications to the Information Commissioner.
	In the past 12 months, no member of the Departments staff has been disciplined or dismissed for breaches of data protection requirements or inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data.
	Similarly, no disciplinary actions for these reasons have been carried out in the Departments agenciesPurchasing and Supply Agency and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agencyin the past year.
	Information is a key asset to Government and their correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of Her Majestys Government. The Security Policy Framework and the Data Handling Report produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handles and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.

Departmental Data Protection

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of primary care trusts which store unencrypted personal data on  (a) laptop computers,  (b) memory sticks and  (c) other portable media devices; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: All national health service organisations are individually legally responsible for the data in their possession and for complying with data protection legislation. They are expected to take data loss extremely seriously and to be open about incidents and the action taken as a result. Strategic health authorities are now required to regularly publish details of data losses on their websites. The NHS chief executive has written to all senior NHS managers reminding them of their responsibilities, and to make it clear that patient data should not be stored on unencrypted portable media.
	The appropriate management of patient records is a key core standard against which the Care Quality Commission assesses all NHS bodies.

Departmental Marketing

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which  (a) companies,  (b) consultancies and  (c) other external firms have been contracted to review his Departments advertising in the last 10 years; and at what cost in each case.

Phil Hope: The Department has not contracted any companies, consultancies or other external firms to review its advertising programme in the last 10 years.

Departmental Pay

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department are paid an annual salary of more than £100,000.

Phil Hope: There were 71 senior civil servants in the Department who earned a salary of over £100,000 at 1 April 2008. Salary includes base pay and all pay-related allowances. Further details are available in the departmental report 2009, which was published on 11 June 2009.

Departmental Public Relations

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what each  (a) of his Department's arms length bodies,  (b) strategic health authority and  (c) special health authority has spent on public affairs consultancy in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: The information for strategic health authorities is not held centrally.
	The information for arms length bodies (ALBs), including special health authorities (SpHAs), is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Expenditure 
			  £ 
			  ALBs  (including SpHAs)  1999-2000  2000-01  2000-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Appointments Commission Not in existence 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Alcohol Education and Research Council 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence Not in existence This information is not available centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost 
			 General Social Care Council Not in existence 0 5,699 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Health Protection Agency Not in existence 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority This information is not available centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost 
			 Human Tissue Authority Not in existence 0 0 0 0 
			 Information Centre(1) Not in existence 0 83,637 34,639 81,427 
			 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Not in existence 0 0 34,000 34,000 0 0 
			 Monitor-Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts Not in existence 0 0 0 0 0 49,700 
			 NHS Business Services Authority(1) Not in existence 0 0 0 0 
			 NHS Blood and Transplant(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11,461 26,176 
			 NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement(1) Not in existence 0 0 0 
			 NHS Litigation Authority(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency Not in existence 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 NHS Professional(1) Not in existence 0 0 0 0 0 
			 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence(1) This information is not available centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost 
			 National Patient Safety Agency(1) Not in existence 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 National Treatment Agency for substance Misuse(1) Not in existence 0 0 0 1,657 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board Not in existence 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) Denotes a special health authority.

Doctors: Immigration

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the number of non-UK doctors granted entry  (a) through the points-based system and  (b) otherwise is required for the NHS to operate at capacity.

Ann Keen: The United Kingdom medical work force is moving towards greater self-sufficiency as the increase in medical school places produces more UK trained doctors year on year. The medical profession is internationally mobile and the number of non-UK trained doctors finding employment in the UK will vary by specialty and geography, reflecting service demands and the flows of UK doctors. The Department has worked with the UK Borders Agency to ensure a number of routes are available through the points based system to allow the national health service to recruit the doctors it needs. This includes recruitment through the tier 5 medical training initiative.

Health Services: Elderly

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent assessment is of standards of out-of-hospital  (a) palliative and  (b) dementia care for elderly patients in (i) England, (ii) Essex and (iii) Castle Point; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: As part of the work to develop the End of Life Care Strategy and the National Dementia Strategy, evidence was considered on all aspects of end of life care, including palliative care, services and dementia care services for adults in England as a whole, irrespective of age. The outcome of this work is reflected in the two strategies, which were published in July 2008 and February 2009 respectively. Copies of the strategies have already been placed in the Library and are available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_086277
	and
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_094058
	We have made no assessment of the standards of out-of-hospital end of life care or dementia care for elderly patients in Essex or Castle Point. This is the responsibility of local primary care trusts and Essex county council.

Health Services: Technology

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the proposals in the Digital Britain report for development of telecare and assistive technology; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Our Departments work closely together on the development of telecare and assistive technology. The Digital Britain Report highlights assisted living as a key example of communications-enabled innovation. This is supported by the Technology Strategy Board through its assisted living innovation platform.
	Officials from both the Department of Health and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills sit on the Assisted Living Innovation Platform Steering Board to ensure that applied research addresses the needs of public service delivery within a developing digital infrastructure. The Departments whole system demonstrator programme is testing the effectiveness of current assisted living technologies. The challenges identified by this programme have a direct influence on the targeting of research within the assisted living innovation platform.

Hospital Beds: Elderly

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds allocated for care of the elderly there were in hospitals in England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The number of occupied and available bed days and day only beds is collected annually, from national health service providers by ward classification. The following table shows the number of available beds by ward classification in which care of the elderly could take place.
	
		
			  Average daily number of available beds in wards open overnight by ward classification, England, 2003-04 to 2007-08 
			   Available beds 
			  Ward classification  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Intensive care: wholly or mainly adult 3,283 3,417 3,454 3,622 3,667 
			 Terminally ill/palliative care: wholly or mainly adult 386 436 427 395 411 
			 Other general and acute: elderly: normal care 25,580 24,853 22,987 21,141 19,239 
			 Other general and acute: elderly: limited care 1,874 1,788 1,705 1,756 1,462 
			 Other general and acute: other 94,289 94,030 92,850 89,042 86,137 
			 Mental illness: elderly: short stay 7,528 7,475 7,343 6,945 6,577 
			 Mental illness: elderly: long stay 4,574 4,043 3,591 2,832 2,417 
			  Note: The Department collects annual data on a total of 24 ward classifications. The table above shows available beds in ward classifications which are classified specifically for care of the elderly or could be used for care of the elderly.  Source: Department of Health form KH03

In Vitro Fertilisation

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 May 2009,  Official Report, column 341W, on in vitro fertilisation: standards, what assessment he has made of the level of compliance of assisted fertility centres with the requirements of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in respect of witnessing clinical and laboratory practices during in vitro fertilisation treatment; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that the compliance of individual assisted fertility centres with the authority requirements in respect of witnessing clinical and laboratory practices is assessed in the course of an inspection and the findings documented in the inspection report. Compliance is assessed for individual clinics on a case by case basis.
	The HFEA's report Focus on Improvement comments on licensed clinics' performance between April 2006 and March 2007. The report is available on the HFEA's website at:
	www.hfea.gov.uk/docs/Focus_on_improvement_report_final2.pdf

Learning Disability

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on social care for people with a learning disability in 2008-09.

Phil Hope: Data on local authority expenditure on state funded social care are collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.
	The gross current expenditure for adults aged 18 to 64 with learning disabilities in England during 2007-08 was £3,450 million.
	Expenditure data for adults aged 65 or over with learning disabilities are not collected centrally.
	Data for 2008-09 are not yet available.

Maternity Services

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the £330 million three-year allocation for improvements to maternity services was committed in 2008-09.

Ann Keen: The £330 million that is being made available over three years is included in primary care trust (PCT) baseline allocations. These allocations are not ring-fenced, and PCTs are able to determine how best to deliver national requirements and local priorities including how much to invest in particular services. The amount of expenditure that has been committed to maternity services is therefore determined by the national health service locally and not the Department. Data on total expenditure on maternity in 2008-09 are not yet available until the autumn.

Maternity Services: Manpower

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what account he expects strategic health authorities to take of the 2008 non-medical workforce census in their maternity workforce plans;
	(2)  what estimate his Department uses of  (a) the rate of attrition from training student midwives and  (b) the proportion of newly-qualified midwives who secure employment as midwives with the NHS for the purposes of midwifery workforce planning;
	(3)  how many former NHS midwives returned to practise in the NHS in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(4)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of midwives retiring from the NHS in the next 10 years.

Ann Keen: It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local authorities, strategic health authorities (SHAs) and other local stakeholders to determine and plan the workforce they need to provide high quality maternity services in their localities.
	The NHS Workforce Review Team (WRT) provides workforce planning support to strategic health authorities (SHAs), commissioners and providers across the National Health Service in England. WRT's annual publication Assessment of Workforce Priorities sets out the priority issues within workforce for health and social care, based on healthcare policy workforce need and assessment of the supply and demand factors that impact on clinical staff groups, building on workforce planning assumptions for; attrition, retirement and return to practice. This publication alongside other workforce planning publications can be viewed on WRT's website at: www.wrt.nhs.uk
	SHAs reported in February 2008 that they planned to grow the midwifery workforce by up to 4,000 by 2012. This is contingent on the rising birth rate.

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency: Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid in bonuses to  (a) directors,  (b) senior managers,  (c) specialist and delivery managers and  (d) executive support and administration staff in the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not hold the information in the categories of staff requested. The following information is based on staff bonuses received by staff at senior civil service (SCS) grades and grades below SCS (Non SCS). Data for 2004-05 are unavailable.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Category  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Performance Bonus (SCS including Directors) n/a 254,568 342,597 593,724 780,160 
			 Performance Bonus (Non SCS) n/a n/a n/a n/a (1)41,611 
			 Bonus in lieu of salary increase (Non SCS) n/a 12,946 12,279 18,813 16,889 
			 Special Bonus (SCS and Non SCS) n/a 196,258 262,827 234,770 614,271 
			 Total n/a 463,772 617,704 847,307 1,411,320 
			 (1) Introduced in 2008

Muscular Dystrophy: Health Services

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to  (a) primary care trusts and  (b) social services on the care and treatment of people over the age of 18 with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Ann Keen: The NHS Evidence website:
	www.evidence.nhs.uk/
	contains detailed clinical and social care advice suitable for health professionals involved in the care of those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Muscular Dystrophy: Research

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Government funding is being made available for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2009-10.

Ann Keen: Both the Department and the Medical Research Council (MRC) support research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The MRC spent £2.1 million on such research in 2007-08. (Figures for more recent years are not yet available.) Projected departmental expenditure in the current financial year is principally expenditure by National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research centres and amounts to £450,000.

NHS: Billing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2009,  Official Report, column 928W, on departmental billing, what steps he has taken to reduce the time taken by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency for payment of invoices; and what the total monetary value of contracts processed by the agency was in each of the last three years.

Mike O'Brien: In May 2009, the Department published a document outlining the new commercial operating model. This will involve transferring the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agencys (PASA) functions to organisations that can add greater scope, scale and impact to the procurement of goods and services.
	The total monetary value of contracts (invoices paid) processed by the agency in each of the last three years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Total value of invoices paid (£ million) 
			 2006-07 15 
			 2007-08 16 
			 2008-09 25

NHS: Crimes of Violence

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reported assaults on  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses there were in each strategic health authority area in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. Since 2004-05, information on the number of physical assaults reported against national health service staff in England has been collected by the NHS Security Management Service. This information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of assaults 
			 2004-05 60,385 
			 2005-06 58,695 
			 2006-07 55,709 
			 2007-08 55,993 
		
	
	Tables showing the number of physical assaults reported by each health body have been placed in the Library.

NHS: Finance

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what average management charge was levied by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency for contracts issued by it in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency makes no charges to national health service trusts for management costs in respect of contracts arranged by it. The agency works to a fixed resource budget which is agreed with the Department annually, details of which are published in the annual report and accounts.

NHS: Finance

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what average change in prices under the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency contracts was in each of the last two years.

Mike O'Brien: The information is not collected in the format requested, to do so would attract disproportionate cost.
	The agency reported £499.8 million in savings during 2007-08 on 360 contracts to the value of £3,321 million. Savings of £599 million were reported in 2008-09 on 313 contracts to the value of £3,229 million.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken by the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the last 12 months to ensure that registrants have indemnity insurance.

Ann Keen: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), within their guidance, recommends that a registered nurse, midwife or specialist community public health nurse in advising, treating and caring for patients/clients, has professional indemnity insurance. This is in the interests of clients, patients and registrants in the event of claims and professional negligence.
	While employers have vicarious liability for the negligent acts and/or omissions of their employees, such cover does not normally extend to activities undertaken outside the registrant's employment. Independent practice would not be covered by vicarious liability. It is the individual registrant's responsibility to establish their insurance status and take appropriate action.
	In situations where an employer does not have vicarious liability, the NMC recommends that registrants obtain adequate professional indemnity insurance. If unable to secure professional indemnity insurance, a registrant will need to demonstrate that all their clients/patients are fully informed of this fact and the implications this might have in the event of a claim for professional negligence.
	Although such standards are not binding, registrants breaching them risk being sanctioned under their regulator's fitness to practise procedures.
	The NMC have also been working closely with the Department, Devolved Administrations, employers, Trades Unions and patient representatives on draft proposals, which would require compulsory indemnity as a condition of registration. However, following concerns expressed by nursing and midwifery unions, the former Secretary of State has recently announced a review of policy on indemnity insurance. The NMC have been advised the proposals have been put on hold pending the outcome of the review.

Nutrition: Health Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will include incentives for conducting nutritional screening in the community pharmacy contractual framework.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him by the then Minister of State for Public Health (Dawn Primarolo) on 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 703W. There are no plans to include incentives for pharmacists to undertake nutritional screening as part of the community pharmacy contractual framework.

Patients: Safety

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of each type of patient safety incident occurred in each NHS trust between April and September 2008; and what percentage of such incidents in each such trust fell within each degree of harm.

Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in a table provided by the National Patient Safety Agency that has been placed in the Library.

Poultry Meat: Import Controls

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to prevent the importation of chicken injected with pork and beef waste; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Hydrolysed animal proteins, such as from beef or pork, can legally be used as ingredients to retain added water in meat products and preparations. The use of such protein ingredients in injected chicken preparations has no safety implications but as with all ingredients they have to be properly labelled so that consumers are accurately informed.
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recently carried out a small study on some of the injection powders that are used to retain added water in chicken preparations, evaluating the use of a novel method to identify the animal origin of the proteins used. Initial findings from this study indicated the presence of beef and pork collagen proteins in the powders tested. The issue is that these proteins were not declared.
	The FSA has already raised these findings with the European Commission and enforcement authorities in the relevant member states and ongoing discussions are taking place to resolve the issue. The FSA is also working with researchers to establish what further work is needed to enable the new methodology to be used for routine analysis.

Primary Care Trusts

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts made bids for funding from the Community Hospitals Fund in each of the last three years; how many such bids were successful; how much was allocated in respect of each such bid; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: In total 51 primary care trusts (PCTs) made bids for funding, of which 28 were successful. The successful bids are listed as follows, along with their respective total departmental allocations.
	
		
			  Strategic health authority  PCT  Scheme  Department of Health  funding  (£ million rounded) 
			 North East Sunderland Teaching Washington Primary Care Centre 8.9 
			 North East Hartlepool Hartlepool Primary Care Facility 3.0 
			 North West Stockport St. Thomas 26.6 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Calderdale PCT, Kirklees PCT Calderdale and Kirklees Community Services 13.8 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Rotherham Rotherham Primary Care Centre 1.0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber North Yorkshire and York Selby Health and Community Campus 13.0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber East Riding of Yorkshire East Riding Community Hospitals (Beverley, Hornsea and Driffield) 17.0 
			 East Midlands Nottingham County Teaching Ashfield Community Hospital 1.149 
			 West Midlands Worcestershire Malvern Community Hospital 19.2 
			 East of England Suffolk Felixstowe General Hospital 1.8 
			 London Haringey Hornsey Community Hospital 1.76 
			 London Barking and Dagenham Barking Hospital 5.0 
			 London Richmond and Twickenham Teddington Health and Social Care Centre 4.0 
			 London Barnet Finchley Memorial Hospital 9.9 
			 London Kensington and Chelsea St. Charles Hospital 10.5 
			 London Greenwich Eltham and Mottingham Hospital 4.6 
			 South East Coast Hastings and Rother Hastings Primary Health Care Centre 12.3 
			 South East Coast Eastern and Coastal Kent Health and Social Care Centre at Kings Avenue, Ashford, Kent 9.0 
			 South Central Hampshire Gosport War Memorial Hospital 6.1 
			 South Central Southampton Royal South Hants Hospital 6.1 
			 South Central Portsmouth City Teaching St. Marys Community Hospital 17.1 
			 South Central Buckinghamshire Thame 4.0 
			 South West South Gloucestershire Yate Community Health Centre 5.0 
			 South West Somerset Minehead Healthy Living Park 24.5 
			 South West Bristol South Bristol Community Hospital 3.9 
			 South West Bath and North East Somerset Keynsham Health Park 5.8 
			 South West Gloucestershire Berkeley Vale 6.4 
			 South West Gloucestershire North Cotswolds 13.2 
			 Total Department of Health funding   c. 250

Sheltered Housing: Elderly

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of older people living in  (a) extra care and  (b) extra sheltered accommodation.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Social Services: Elderly

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many older people receive social care.

Phil Hope: Data on the number of people receiving social services funded either fully or partially by councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) in England are collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care as part of the referrals, assessments and packages of care return.
	We are informed by the Information Centre that, during the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008, the latest for which data are available, 1,221,000 adults aged 65 and over in England received a social care service funded either partly or wholly by their CASSR following a community care assessment.

Treatment Centres: Southampton

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors from Southampton General Hospital have been seconded to the independent sector treatment centre in Southampton in each month since its establishment; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The number of doctors that have been seconded from Southampton University Hospital Trust to the Southampton NHS Treatment Centre, on a monthly basis, since it opened on 28 October 2008 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Whole - time equivalent (WTE) 
			 November 2008 6.85 
			 December 2008 9.78 
			 January 2009 12.39 
			 February 2009 13.77 
			 March 2009 13.77 
			 April 2009 13.77

Weather

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2009,  Official Report, column 404W, on weather, what the costs were of  (a) revising each of the three web-based documents and  (b) printing and posting the leaflet.

Gillian Merron: The Heatwave Plan itself is a web-based document only.
	To date, the cost of producing and distributing the 2009 package of Heatwave Plan documents is £79,504.79, made up of the cost of revising the three web-based documents and enabling them to be downloaded from the Departments website, and the printing and posting costs of the leaflet. The breakdown of costs is:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Revision costs 2,274.70 
			 Mail out of leaflets 50,385.09 
			 Printing 900,000 copies of leaflet 26,845.00

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Aviation: Government Assistance

Peter Luff: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent application he has received from the aerospace sector for repayable launch investment; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lucas: In the last 18 months, Government have received applications for repayable launch investment from Bombardier, GKN and Airbus. Each of these is being taken forward. We announced on 13 July 2008 agreement in principle to support to Bombardier Aerospace for the design and development of the composite wing for the new CSeries aircraft, approved by the European Commission on 18 June 2009. The final agreed figure of repayable launch investment was £113.37 million. Similarly, we announced on 15 September 2008, agreement to provide a £60 million repayable launch investment to GKN Aerospace for the design and development of the rear spar and fixed trailing edge on the new Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, subject to European Commission approval. We are currently in detailed negotiations with Airbus about funding arrangements for the A350 XWB aircraft.

Business: Advisory Services

John Penrose: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made in simplifying the reporting of inconsistent or inaccurate guidance as referred to in the Governments response to the Anderson Review of Good Guidance.

Ian Lucas: The better regulation website provides a simple way for businesses to report inaccurate or inconsistent guidance. Issues are handled by the relevant Department or agency and a response posted on the website. A new version of the site has recently been launched and provides a clearer and more up to date web form which businesses can use to report issues.
	The facility to report inconsistent or inaccurate guidance is available at:
	http://www.betterregulation.gov.uk/idea/

Business: Government Assistance

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress the Government has made towards its target of reducing administrative burdens on the private and third sectors by 25 per cent. by 2010.

Ian Lucas: As at December 2008, Departments, Regulators and Agencies involved in the administrative burden reduction programme reported delivery of £1,888 million of annual net administrative savings, i.e. a 14.4 per cent. reduction.
	Progress for each Department, Regulator or Agency is reported in their Simplification Plans which can be found at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/bre/policy/simplifying-existing-regulation/simplification-plans/2007/page44068.html
	To ensure that the reduction efforts are felt on the ground, claimed savings are scrutinised by a External Validation Panel, made up of representatives from business organisations, before they are reported. The Government will report further progress in December 2009.

Business: Government Assistance

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress the Government has made towards its target of identifying annual net reductions in costs to private sector organisations of £3.5 billion by 2010.

Ian Lucas: The Government's target is to deliver a 25 per cent. annual net reduction in the administrative burdens on regulation affecting businesses and third sector organisations by May 2010, so reducing costs by an estimated £3.4 billion. As at December 2008, Departments, regulators and agencies involved in the administrative burden reduction programme reported delivery of £1,888 million of annual net administrative savings, i.e. a 14.4 per cent. reduction.
	Progress for each Department, regulator or agency is reported in their Simplification Plans which can be found at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/bre/policy/simplifying-existing-regulation/simplification-plans/2007/page44068.html
	To ensure that the reduction efforts are felt on the ground, claimed savings are scrutinised by an External Validation Panel, made up of representatives from business organisations, before they are reported. The Government will report further progress in December 2009.

Business: Human Rights

Ian McCartney: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the further development of the toolkit on business and human rights.

Ian Lucas: My officials have been closely involved in discussions with officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the development of a toolkit on business and human rights for UK overseas posts. The toolkit is still being developed and various stakeholders are being consulted. No discussions have taken place between the two Departments at ministerial level.

Business: Regulation

Brian Binley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to businesses of regulations due to come into force in April 2009.

Ian Lucas: Government Departments publish details of regulatory changes introduced on the two common commencement dates of 6 April and 1 October on the BusinessLink website:
	http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/ccds
	In April 2009, 22 regulatory changes were published on BusinessLink.
	These included the second phase of the extension to the statutory entitlement to four weeks' paid holiday required under the EU working time directive, making it additional to the number of bank holidays in England and Wales. This extended the right for all workers from 24 to 28 days holiday a year. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Economics and Business on 28 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1274W. The cost to business of this second phase was estimated at between £1.8 billion and 2.4 billion.
	The remaining 21 regulatory changes are estimated to have a total additional net cost to business of approximately £30 million. The estimated total benefits of these 21 regulatory changes are in excess of £230 million, it is not always possible to monetise the benefits of regulation.

Business: Regulation

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations Ministers from his Department and its predecessors have made to the European Union on a reduction in the regulatory burden on business in the last 12 months.

Ian Lucas: Following successful Government lobbying at the Spring European Council in 2007 to secure agreement to a target to reduce administrative burdens stemming from EU law by 25 per cent. by 2012, Ministers from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and its predecessors have continued to push the European Commission to bring forward simplification proposals as a matter of priority.
	This has already resulted in the Commission presenting a proposal to give member states the option to exempt micro-enterprises from the requirements of the accounting directives. In January, the Commission committed to making:
	Every effort... to adopt these proposals before the end of this Commission mandate.
	Ministers were instrumental in paving the way for the 2009 Spring European Council conclusions which urged the Commission to go one step further and:
	present all proposals in each of the 13 priority areas before the end of its mandate.
	Ministers were also key in getting better regulation measures into the Small Business Act for Europe which was agreed in June 2008.
	As a result, the Act stresses the importance of reducing administrative burdens and includes a Commission commitment to assess the impact on SMEs of all forthcoming legislative and administrative initiatives and to use specific measures such as transition periods, derogations and exemptions for small and micro firms, wherever appropriate.
	EU member states endorsed the Small Business Act in December 2008, calling for action to be prioritised in areas where it will have most impact, including better regulation. Ministers pressed for this emphasis and continue to underline the importance of implementing better regulation commitments at the EU level at every opportunity.

Climate Change

Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many  (a) full-time equivalent and  (b) headcount officials at each grade are working in his Departments energy and climate change unit; and which Minister is responsible for the unit;
	(2)  what the budget under each sub-heading is of his Department's energy and climate change unit in 2009-10; and what the  (a) responsibilities and  (b) programme of work are of that unit.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 8 May 2009
	 There are 17 full-time equivalent posts in the energy and climate change unit and a current vacancy with a Range 11 official covering the SCS post. The breakdown is as follows:
	
		
			  Posts in the energy and climate change unit by grade 
			   Number 
			 SCS (1)1 
			 R11 2 
			 R10 6 
			 R8 5 
			 R5/PA 1 
			 Faststream 1 
			 Industry secondee 1 
			 (1) Vacant post 
		
	
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 55W, to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (John Penrose) and to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the then Minister for Business and Economics on 20 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1470W, to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (John Penrose).
	Following the recent reshuffle, Lord Drayson is the Minister responsible for the unit within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Debts: Advisory Services

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what services his Department's face-to-face debt advice project has provided since September 2008; how many  (a) males and  (b) females in each age group have applied for assistance under the project since September 2008; what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of such people who have had their debt problems resolved; whether the project is able to loan money to applicants; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lucas: The Department's face-to-face debt advice projectfunded by the Treasury's Financial Inclusion Fundprovides the crucial broad range of advice assistance required by those facing crisis debt situations. From 1 October 2008 to 31 March 2009 51,131 clients were helped. The split between males and females seen is roughly 46.8 per cent. male and 53.2 female and this gives the numbers seen as 23,929 men and 27,202 women. The project does not claim to resolve every single aspect of the debt problems of all clients but a large number of clients are helped to arrange debt repayment plans. All are offered on-going assistance until they are satisfied unlike some funding schemes that have cut off points.
	There is no facility to loan people money from the project. However, the Financial Inclusion Fund also funds the Department for Work and Pension's Growth Fund and this helps facilitate credit union loans to people in our client target group.

Departmental Public Consultation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many public consultations have been conducted by his Department and its predecessors since 27 June 2007; what the title of each was ; how many responses were received to each; and what estimate he has made of the cost incurred for each consultation.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 18 June 2009
	BIS and its predecessors have conducted 79 consultations since 27 June 2007. The titles of those relating to the former BERR are listed at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/index.html
	The titles of the former DIUS ones are listed at
	http://www.dius.gov.uk/consultations
	The number of replies received for individual consultations is recorded in the government response documentsthese are published on the above departmental websites alongside the consultations themselves. Providing the costs of conducting the consultations could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Responsibilities

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which section of his Department has lead responsibility for trade and export promotion of renewable energy.

Ian Lucas: UK Trade and Investment, which is a joint operation of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, continues to promote the UK renewable energy industries internationally. UKTI's Energy Team, based in Glasgow, does this in close partnership with the Department of Energy and Climate Change, which, through the organisation UK Renewables, supports the development of the renewables supply chain in the UK.

Dietary Supplements: Channel Islands

Brian Iddon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what information his Department holds on the systems Royal Mail has in place to monitor the content of mail order catalogues from health food manufacturers distributing products from the Channel Islands who have previously breached the requirements of the Advertising Standards Agencys Committee on Advertising Practice code;
	(2)  what information his Department holds on action taken by Royal Mail against health food manufacturers operating from the Channel Islands whose mail order catalogues were found to be in breach of the requirements of the Advertising Standards Agencys Committee on Advertising Practice code in the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: The Department is not aware that Royal Mail has any such systems in place.
	There are no specific powers in the Postal Services Act 2000 to control direct-mail advertising from the Channel Islands. Royal Mail is legally obliged to deliver all mail to given addresses and has no control over the contents of postal packets or letters which have been properly posted, paid for and correctly addressed.

EU Internal Trade

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the amount saved by UK companies on tariffs on exports to EU countries consequent upon the UKs EU membership in the last 10 years.

Ian Lucas: No estimate has been made because there is a lot of uncertainty as to what tariff and non-tariff barriers UK exporters to the EU would face if the UK were not a member. It is likely that even the UK was not a member, it would have some preferential access to EU markets, but this could be in several forms.
	In the extreme or worst case scenario UK businesses could be forced to pay the most favoured nation tariff (the tariff applied to countries with no preferential access) to export to the EU. Higher tariff and non tariff barriers in this scenario would decrease the competitiveness of UK exports in the EU, and therefore would likely reduce the volume of trade taking placemeaning a greater loss of jobs and business opportunities for UK companies.
	The UK would therefore have the incentive to enter some sort of free trade agreement with the EU. Such agreements remove tariffs for the majority of goods but vary greatly in the extent to which they remove non-tariff barriers. These include differences in regulations (health and safety regulations for example) which make exporting to the EU more costly. They vary also greatly in the extent to which they cover other areas of great economic importance like trade in services, investment, intellectual property matters, migration, competition issues as well as public procurement.
	In the best case scenario, the UK would still enjoy full access to the single market like the members of the European free trade area. That would mean however that it would have to take on board all EU regulations linked to the single market now and in the future, with no influence on designing them. Just like Norway, the UK would probably also have to contribute financially to continue benefiting from this access.
	Calculating the costs imposed on UK businesses under all of these possible outcomes could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Insolvency

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of business failures in the last 12 months attributable to late payments; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of such failures.

Ian Lucas: The Insolvency Service routinely publishes information on the profile of companies that enter compulsory liquidation including causes of failure. The latest report, published in May, covers the period 2005/06 to 2007/08 and therefore information on causes of failure in the last 12 months is not yet available but will be issued in due course.
	While figures specifically considering late payments are not available, among those companies entering compulsory liquidation in 2007/08 the most common causes of failure were a loss of market (22 per cent. of cases) and management failure (20.4 per cent.). Financial difficulties were identified as the primary cause of failure in 13.4 per cent. of compulsory liquidations and bad debts were cited in 11.1 per cent. of cases. The failure of a company was attributed to the knock on effect from the failure of another business in 4.1 per cent. of compulsory liquidations.

Insolvency: Ports

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what records the Insolvency Service holds on the number of firms in ports which have gone into administration in the last six months.

Ian Lucas: There is insufficient, detailed information held centrally, and in a readily available format, to provide an answer to this question. This is because:
	firms in ports is not a standard industry classification and therefore is not recorded; and
	addresses are not available to count companies giving a port as part of their address.

Iraq

Liam Fox: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many civil servants from his Department are based in  (a) Basra,  (b) Baghdad,  (c) Erbil and  (d) other locations in Iraq.

Ian Lucas: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) has three permanent positions in Baghdad, consisting of one UK based officer and two locally engaged staff.
	Alongside the full time staff allocation, UKTI is currently employing two business consultants in Iraq on contracts that run through to the end of July and August 2009.
	Currently there are no civil servants from this Department based in Basra. However the situation is currently being reviewed.
	There are no plans to recruit positions in Erbil or other locations in Iraq.

LDV

Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the administrators of LDV Group on the future of the business.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 22 June 2009
	I have not had any discussions with the Administrators of LDV.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the car scrappage scheme applies to mobility-supplied vehicles which are over 10 years old.

Ian Lucas: Under the scheme motorists are being offered a discount of £2,000 on a new car or van if they trade in vehicles for scrappage that they have owned for 12 or more months and which were registered in the UK before 31 August 1999. Motability supplied vehicles which meet the criteria of the scheme are eligible.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of  (a) Jaguar Land Rover and  (b) Morgan Motor Company Ltd. on the automotive industry in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lucas: Ministers and officials have been in regular dialogue with representatives of Jaguar Land Rover as well as a range of other companies in the west midlands, to discuss how best to provide the support the industry needs. Ministers from the then BERR visited Morgan last August.
	Officials also attended a JLR supplier event at Gaydon in early May. The event led directly to new interest in support available from Government. Following a series of workshops chaired by automotive assistance programme officials there have been additional dialogue/meetings and some expressions of interest.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many loans have been made to the automotive industry under the Automotive Assistance Programme since the programme became operational; and what the monetary value of such loans is.

Ian Lucas: We are currently in detailed discussions with a number of businesses about their applications for funding under the Automotive Assistance Programme (AAP).
	There have been more than 70 further requests for information on the scheme with the AAP team working with companies resulting in around 18 approaches being developed into detailed discussions with BIS for serious applications, and there are others in the pipeline.
	The details of support to companies are commercially sensitive and subject to agreement. As a general rule the Governments intention is to offer loan guarantees, though there is scope under the programme to offer loans as well.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Phil Willis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether cars which are 10 years old and which were first registered on the Isle of Man and are now registered in the UK are eligible for the car scrappage scheme.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 18 June 2009
	 If the car was registered in the UK on or before 31 August 1999 and is registered in the UK now, then it is eligible provided all the other conditions of the scheme are met.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many redundancies in the automotive sector have been notified to his Department and its predecessor in each month since January 2009.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 22 June 2009
	The number of advance notifications of proposed redundancies received between 1 January 2009 and 18 June 2009 for the automotive sector are as follows:
	
		
			   Establishment  Proposed redundancies 
			 January 2009 40 2,278 
			 February 2009 26 2,515 
			 March 2009 34 1,998 
			 April 2009 22 1,318 
			 May 2009 11 513 
			 June 2009 to date 7 1,027 
			 Total 140 9,649

Motor Vehicles: Research

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to promote research and development within the automotive industry.

Ian Lucas: The Technology Strategy Boards (TSB) low carbon vehicle innovation platform provides more than £100 million for research, development and demonstration, including the ultra-low carbon vehicle demonstrator programme.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has supported the establishment of Cenex. This is a delivery agency to promote UK market development and competitiveness in low carbon and fuel cell technologies for transport applications. Cenexs principal focus is on catalysing market transformation projects linking technology providers and end users. As part of this work, it runs a number of programmes for UK national and regional Government, including the low carbon vehicle procurement programme and the low carbon and fuel cell technology knowledge transfer network.
	On 27 January 2009, Government announced the automotive assistance package (AAP). This series of measures was state aid cleared on 27 February. The primary aim of this package of up to £2.3 billion is to support the continued delivery of investment that will create or sustain jobs, develop cutting-edge technology, bring special value to the UK, reduce CO2 emissions and maintain R and D in UK vehicle manufacturing.
	The Government-facilitated, industry led new automotive innovation and growth team (NAIGT) published its report on 6 May. Key recommendations aimed at both industry and Government, included proposals to focus the UK automotive R and D agenda around a new industry-consensus technology roadmap. The Governments intention is to publish its formal response to the NAIGT report during the summer.

North East Regional Development Agency

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which  (a) festivals and  (b) other events the North East Regional Development Agency has undertaken to support or sponsor through the culture10 Partnership; and what sums have been allocated in each case.

Rosie Winterton: Details of the investments proposed by all partners of the Culture 10 Programme (including One NorthEast) in 2009-10 are tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Proposed Culture 10 Investments 2009-10 
			  Project title  Arts Council England NE  Newcastle city council  Gateshead council  One NorthEast  Northern Rock Foundation  Total 
			 International Village of Culture    80,000  80,000 
			 ReGarrison of Hadrian's Wall    320,000 30,000 350,000 
			 EAT! NewcastleGateshead Food Festival  25,000 25,000 50,000 50,000 150,000 
			 The Late Shows 25,000 15,000 10,000   50,000 
			 Great North Museum Opening      0 
			 Hotel Monument      0 
			 2009 Evolution  62,500 62,500 19,500 62,500 207,000 
			 Northern Rock Cyclone    20,000  20,000 
			 2009 Summer Tyne Festival (including Sing for Water)   85,000 110,000 5,000 200,000 
			 Summer Tyne Local Activity     30,000 30,000 
			 Aviva British Grand Prix   75,000 125,000  200,000 
			 2008 Print Biennale  20,000  40,000 40,000 100,000 
			 International Cricket Matches    350,000  350,000 
			 Durham Brass Festival 32,500   32,500  65,000 
			 Reinventing the City  50,000 50,000 40,000 50,000 190,000 
			 Tour of Britain    200,000  200,000 
			 Nova Great North Run  25,000 25,000 160,000  210,000 
			 Avison Live: Division Lobby  5,000  10,000  15,000 
			 Xperience    127,000  127,000 
			 Juice Childrens Festival 50,000 65,000 65,000 100,000 20,000 300,000 
			 Gateshead International Cross Country Races   50,000 50,000  100,000 
			 Durham Ilumenata II    100,000  100,000 
			 Northumberland Winter Festival 50,000   170,000 30,000 250,000 
			 Northern Lights Film Festival  25,000  75,000  100,000 
			 NewcastleGateshead Winter Festival  75,000 100,000  50,000 225,000 
			 AV Festival 50,000   100,000  150,000 
			 Science Festival    50,000  50,000 
			 Wildworks    200,000 60,000 260,000 
			 Wildworks Local Activity     40,000 40,000 
			 Live Art Festival 50,000     50,000 
			 Odin's GlowTees Valley (Roseberry Topping) 25,000   80,000 45,000 150,000 
			 Stockton Bridge Opening Celebration 25,000   55,000  80,000 
			 NCC cultural partners  250,000    250,000 
			 Total 307,500 617,500 547,500 2,664,000 512,500 4,649,000

Palestinians: Overseas Trade

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether new trading connections have been made between British and Palestinian businesses since the Palestine Trade and Investment Forum in December; and what steps his Department has taken to assist Palestinian produce in the British market.

Ian Lucas: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) helps UK based companies succeed in international markets and also assists overseas companies to bring high quality investment to the UK. Although UKTI has no formal role in assisting overseas companies to export into the UK, the Department has contributed to discussions held since the London Forum on Trade and Investment with Palestine, on creating an export hub for Palestinian produce in the West Bank. UKTI provides a range of support services to British companies wishing to trade with or invest in Palestine, through commercial teams based in both the UK and the British Consulate General in Jerusalem. Although UKTI facilitates businesses wishing to trade, it does not hold records of business transactions completed.

Palestinians: Overseas Trade

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made in promoting and facilitating bilateral trade and investment in the Palestinian Territories since the launch of the Palestine-Britain Business Council in December 2008.

Ian Lucas: My noble Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Business visited Jerusalem and Ramallah on 20 May 2009, sharing ideas on boosting bilateral trade and economic links with Palestine's Minister for National Economy, the Governor of the Palestine Monetary Authority and senior members of the Palestinian business community. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) has worked closely with the Palestine-Britain Business Council since its launch in December 2008, and continues to provide a range of support services to British companies through teams based in both the UK and the British Consulate General in Jerusalem. Follow-up to December 2008's London Business Forum on Trade and Investment with Palestine includes a visit by Google to the West Bank in March 2009 to explore the potential for IT development and to give two training courses for Palestinians working in the ICT industry. Plans have also been put in place for UK trade missions to the West Bank later in the year in the tourism and construction sectors.

Palestinians: Overseas Trade

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what support his Department is providing to the Palestine-Britain Business Council in 2009-10.

Ian Lucas: UKTI supports the work of the Palestine Britain Business Council by attending and contributing to meetings of UK Council members and through facilitating Business Council activity in both the UK and in Palestine. UKTI is working closely with the Business Council and other business stakeholders on follow-up to the London Business Forum on Trade and Investment in Palestine, held on 15 December 2008. Activities under discussion for 2009-10 include UK trade missions to Palestine in the Tourism and Construction sectors.

Regional Development Agencies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what related party transactions were declared by each board member of each of the regional development agencies in the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: The following table shows RDA board members that have declared recordable donations in the last three years.
	
		
			  RDA  Board  m ember  Political  p arty to which transaction made 
			 Advantage West Midlands Cllr. Kenneth Taylor Conservative 
			 East Midlands development agency Cllr. Gary Hunt Liberal Democrats 
			 Northwest development agency Cllr. Joe Dewek CBE Labour 
			  Lord Peter Smith Labour 
			 South West regional development agency Cllr. Duncan Hames Liberal Democrats 
			  Cllr. Christine Reid Labour 
			 Yorkshire Forward Cllr. Kathryn Pinnock Liberal Democrats 
		
	
	As at 11 June 2009 the East of England development agency, ONE North East, and South East of England development agency, do not have any board members who have declared making recordable donations to a political party during the last five years.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Peter Luff: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions the Secretary of State has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the future procurement of rolling stock; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lucas: None.

Royal Mail

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps have been taken to ensure that proposals for the sale of parts of Royal Mail provide value for money.

Ian Lucas: It is important for the sale of any Government asset to provide value for money for the tax payer. This applies to the sale of any stake in Royal Mail as much as any other transaction.
	For that reason Government were clear in their February policy document and with potential bidders, that the price offered for any stake would be a key factor in considering bids. Ministers have made it clear during the passage of the Postal Services Bill that they will not do a deal at any price.

Royal Mail

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many companies have submitted bids for part-ownership of Royal Mail.

Ian Lucas: Government have received a number of expressions of interest regarding a partnership with Royal Mail. At this stage of the process only TNT has made their interest public. For commercial confidentiality reasons it is not possible to provide any further details.

Royal Mail

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the outcome was of the Secretary of State's discussions on further share sales in Royal Mail beyond a 30 per cent. stake.

Ian Lucas: The exact percentage required to cement a partnership for Royal Mail is a matter for negotiation with any partner. The Department believes a 30 per cent. stake would ensure that a partner has the right incentive to take forward the modernisation of the business and to align their interests with those of Government.
	The Government have held no discussions on further share sales beyond a partnership transaction. Flexibility is important, however, for example to ensure that some element of employee share ownership is possible in the future should this be shown to represent good value for money.

Royal Mail

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions the asset value of Royal Mail has been calculated in the last two years; and what action was taken following each such calculation.

Ian Lucas: The Department looks at the asset value of Royal Mail on an annual basis for departmental accounts.

Royal Mail

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on what basis it was decided to propose a sale of 30 per cent. of Royal Mail; what other percentages were considered; and why they were rejected.

Ian Lucas: The level of shareholding required to cement a partnership for Royal Mail is a matter for negotiation with any partner. Government have cited a shareholding in the region of 30 per cent. as one which would be sufficient for the partner to have a strong economic interest in Royal Mail and to ensure its incentives are fully aligned with those of the Governmentnamely to modernise the business rapidly and improve its performance.

Royal Mail

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what  (a) written and  (b) oral representations Ministers in his Department have received on the timing of the proposed part-sale of Royal Mail; and what response has been made to those representations.

Ian Lucas: The Department has received numerous written and oral representations about our proposals for a strategic partnership for Royal Mail. We believe this is the best way to accelerate the modernisation of the business to secure its future and to ensure the maintenance of the universal postal service.

Small Businesses: Credit

James Gray: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from small businesses on their ability to buy goods on credit; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lucas: The Government maintain a close dialogue with a range of business bodies that represent the interests of their members, including through groups such as the Small Business Finance Forum, and is in daily contact with individual businesses on the broad range of issues related to accessing finance. Membership of the Small Business Finance Forum includes the Finance and Leasing Association.

South East of England Development Agency

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what  (a) land and  (b) buildings owned by the South East of England Development Agency are unused.

Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows.
	 (a) Unused land: Nil
	SEEDA acquire land specifically for a defined project and, therefore, does not own unused land.
	 (b) Unused buildings: Nil
	Any unused buildings SEEDA owns are unsuitable for use because they are in various forms of regeneration or development.

Trade: Developing Countries

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his officials have had with the new Indian government on the Doha Development Round; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lucas: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister regularly raises the Doha round in his contacts with other leaders. In this vein he raised it with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month. My noble Friend the Secretary of State raised it with Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma this month, and both he and my noble Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Business are due to meet Minister Sharma this month to discuss a range of issues including the Doha round.
	The Doha round remains the UK Government's top trade priority and we will continue to work closely with our EU and international partners to secure a deal as early as possible.

UK Trade and Investment: Low Carbon Sector

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what UK Trade and Investment support is planned for UK low carbon sector businesses at  (a) the architecture seminar on sustainable buildings as part of the Singapore Design Festival in November 2009,  (b) BESAsia in Kuala Lumpur in November 2009,  (c) Technology World in November 2009,  (d) the NanoForum and Energising Technologies Conference in November 2009,  (e) the World Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi in January 2010,  (f) Ecobuild in London in March 2010 and  (g) the Shanghai World Expo in 2010;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the organisational chart for the UK Trade and Investment Low Carbon Sector Group;
	(3)  what work the UK Trade and Investment Low Carbon Sector Group has undertaken; and what further work is planned;
	(4)  who attended the UK Trade and Investment low carbon partnership event on 25 March 2009.

Ian Lucas: UK Trade and Investment aims to maximise international opportunities for UK businesses with low carbon products, services and solutions across the whole economy.
	UK Trade and Investment is leading on a UK Low Carbon International Marketing Strategy. This is a partnership between business and Government to build the UK's low carbon reputation and position the UK to take advantage of global business opportunities.
	The strategy's overarching messaging and case studies of UK low carbon solutions were launched at a partnership event on 25 March 2009. This was a joint event organised by UK Trade and Investment and the Carbon Trust. Approximately 70 representatives from UK business, professional bodies and organisations with low carbon solutions or interest in the low carbon economy attended, in addition to David Miliband, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and officials from UK Trade and Investment, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and Department of Energy and Climate Change.
	Next steps are to develop specific marketing for a number of sectors and to use this in the UK and overseas to market the UK's low carbon offer to secure trade and investment.
	UK businesses will be able to showcase their low carbon solutions and meet international buyers at a number of events in the UK and overseas including the architecture seminar on sustainable buildings as part of the Singapore Design Festival in November 2009, BESAsia in Kuala Lumpur in November 2009, Technology World in November 2009, the NanoForum and Energising Technologies Conference in November 2009,  (e) the World Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi in January 2010, Ecobuild in London in March 2010 and  (g) the Shanghai World Expo in 2010.
	As low carbon has bearing on all sectors of the economy, it has relevance to all sector teams in UKTI sectors Group and to delivery by the UK Trade and Investment network as a whole. The Managing Director of Sectors Group in UK Trade and Investment is responsible for the development of UK International Marketing Strategies including low carbon.

Uzbekistan: Imports

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the merits of banning imports of Uzbek cotton.

Ian Lucas: Most calls for a ban have been around concerns about labour abuses, especially the use of child labour, in Uzbekistan. The UK remains concerned about allegations of the use of child labour in the cotton sector in Uzbekistan. The UK has raised its concerns through the EU and has discussed this issue with the Uzbek government. The EU welcomed Uzbekistans signing of the International Labour Organisation Conventions on the Worst Forms of Child Labour and Minimum Age in 2008 and 2009 respectively and has urged Uzbekistan to implement effectively its international obligations in this regard.
	The UK Government continue to call on businesses to look at their supply chains and take appropriate action if they find evidence that goods have been produced using child labour. Some companies have committed to not using Uzbek cotton in their products and monitor their direct supply chains to ensure that this is so.

Video Games: Finance

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much financial support was given by UK Trade and Investment to the video games industry in 2007-08.

Ian Lucas: UK Trade and Investment supports the UK Video Game Industry through the ICT, Creative Industries and Education Sector Teams as well as through its overseas posts and regional colleagues based in the Regional Development Agencies.
	Sector Codes used to account for spend by UKTI in 2007-08 do not include a video game subsector. When one includes activities beneficial to the Video Game Industry through support of the entire Software sector in the UK and overseas, the approximate spend is £464,484.

Working Capital Scheme

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when the Working Capital Scheme began operation; and how much funding has been provided under the scheme.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 6 March 2009
	The Working Capital Guarantee Scheme was formally launched on 2 March 2009 as planned when announced by the Secretary of State on the 14 January.
	We have signed £1 billion of guarantees with RBS and Lloyds for portfolios of £2 billion. The financing for businesses it releases has already started from 1 March as a result of the lending agreements based on the Asset Protection Scheme and WCS. We will be allocating from the £10 billion WCS, guarantees for trade credit insurance in response to the constraint to working capital arising from withdrawal of trade credit insurance. We will also be consulting on the viability of using some of these guarantees for letters of credit and other forms of export finance which are also possible areas of constraint for working capital.